Kandinsky at the Philharmonie de Paris

Categories : Exhibition, published on : 12/14/25

An exhibition to be heard as much as it is seen

Rarely has music been so intimately linked to the work of a painter as in the case of Vassily Kandinsky. With the exhibition Kandinsky, the Music of Colors, the Philharmonie de Paris, in collaboration with the Centre Pompidou, presents a fascinating journey at the crossroads of visual and sonic arts.

Through nearly 200 artworks, objects and archival documents, this major exhibition sheds light on the fundamental role of music in Kandinsky’s life, thinking and artistic evolution, leading to the emergence of abstraction. An immersive, intellectual and sensory experience that is sure to surprise.

When music inspires abstraction

A contemporary of major figures such as Mussorgsky, Scriabin and Stravinsky, Kandinsky grew up in a stimulating cultural environment between Moscow and Odessa. An amateur cellist and passionate admirer of Wagner, he very early developed a core conviction: through its abstraction, music frees painting from the imitation of reality.

Drawing inspiration from musical language, Kandinsky invented a new pictorial grammar. His famous Improvisations and Compositions embody this ambition: making forms and colors vibrate like notes on a musical score.

A sound immersion at the heart of modernity

For the first time, the exhibition places Kandinsky’s entire body of work within its musical context. Thanks to an immersive headphone-based experience, visitors can explore the subtle correspondences between sounds, colors and shapes, from Kandinsky’s Wagnerian “shock” in 1896 to the stage experiments of the Bauhaus.

The scenography, particularly striking, features suspended display walls and colored light projections on the floor, highlighting the central importance of color in Kandinsky’s universe and his passion for abstract art. An installation that is both seen and felt.

The secret cabinet of a music lover

A highlight of the exhibition: the imaginary cabinet of Vassily Kandinsky, a true dive into the painter’s creative intimacy. Musical scores, books, photographs, records, popular prints and studio tools reveal a rich and structuring musical culture.

Here, visitors discover his research into the “sonority” of colors, as well as his surprising visual studies inspired by Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Kandinsky, in short, as a composer of forms and colors.

Towards a total synthesis of the arts

Painting, music, poetry and theatre constantly interact in Kandinsky’s work. The exhibition highlights this quest for a synthesis of the arts through his stage projects, vividly colored canvases, experimental poems and the Blaue Reiter Almanac.

The recreation of several synesthetic works, such as the 1928 staging of Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky, reminds us that for Kandinsky, art is also a living, performative experience—almost choreographic.

An exhibition accessible to all

The Philharmonie offers a wide range of inclusive mediation tools:

a sound-based trail for children aged 8 and up,
audio description and tactile devices for visually impaired visitors,
an Easy-to-Read guide (FALC),
free 30-minute flash tours on Fridays and Saturdays.

A thoughtful approach for all audiences, in keeping with Kandinsky’s spirit of openness and sharing.

Staying at Hôtel FABRIC to discover Kandinsky
After this artistic and musical immersion, extend the experience by staying at Hôtel FABRIC, ideally located for exploring Paris’s major cultural landmarks. A hotel where design, colors, clean lines and creative spirit naturally echo Kandinsky’s universe.

Because in Paris, art is not only exhibited—it is lived.

Until February 1st, 2026. Open Tuesday to Thursday from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Friday from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Saturday from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, and Sunday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.