Artist Crafts Engaging Cardboard Installations of Historic Roman Ruins

**Installation View: Grottesco at Le Grand Palais**

Through their immersive and grandiose dimensions, installations frequently beckon us into entirely new realms. Over the past 15 years, Eva Jospin has been creating these types of enchanting environments, drawing spectators into her mythical, cavernous designs. Her most recent solo exhibition at le Grand Palais in Paris continues this tradition.

Entitled *Grottesco*, the exhibit showcases over 15 artworks, all inspired by Roman mythology, revolving around a young man who stumbles upon a forgotten cave. As he explores the cave, he encounters an extensive network of underground frescoes, remnants later recognized as Nero’s Domus Aurea. From this immense palace, which had remained hidden for centuries, emerged the so-called “grotesque,” a style where flora, architecture, and myth blend seamlessly. It’s perhaps not surprising that Jospin was drawn to this tale, given her fondness for cavernous, organic shapes.

Even if her inspirations are somewhat anticipated, *Grottesco* itself remains profoundly surprising. During the exhibition, we encounter columns adorned with vines; intricate domes that envelop us like grottos upon entry; petrified forests that resemble an ancient civilization, preserved in time; and embroidered bas-reliefs merging textiles and sculpture, a novel technique for Jospin. Saturated with earthy tones and overtaken by vegetation, these installations evoke a nearly prehistoric atmosphere, transporting us to the very cave where the young Roman unearthed Nero’s palace.

Amplifying this “underground” ambiance is Jospin’s selection of materials. As seen in her prior endeavors, the artist again utilizes cardboard in *Grottesco*, skillfully transforming this otherwise mundane substance into extraordinary architecture. The natural color of cardboard calls to mind earth, while its identity as an often-overlooked, discarded resource prompts considerations regarding sustainability, fragility, and our bond with the natural environment.

“Cardboard was prevalent in my studios, evolving into a malleable and accessible material,” Jospin articulates. “It has become integral to my work as it enables me to craft resilient pieces while conveying a certain vulnerability that reflects our connection to living beings and nature.”

While heavily inspired by Roman architectural styles, *Grottesco* also resonates with its particular setting. The Grand Palais features stunning arches and domes that enhance Jospin’s own installations, contributing to their sense of dynamism. Importantly, the artist chose to keep the gallery’s windows unobstructed, ensuring that visitors do not, as she puts it, “forget that they are in Paris.” This choice manipulates our expectations, preventing total immersion and creating an intriguing contrast between the past and our current era. This notion is a recurring theme throughout Jospin’s work, bridging fantasy, history, and the present.

“I create environments to inhabit, spaces where guests can enter, get closer, and immerse themselves in the details,” Jospin expresses. “My creations provide a journey toward an inexplicable and endless source: we never truly uncover it, and it is this enigma that keeps drawing us back. What matters is each individual’s experience, rather than conveying a specific message.”

*Eva Jospin: Grottesco* is presently on display at le Grand Palais until March 15, 2026. The exhibition coincides with *Claire Tabouret: D’un seul souffle*, also available through the same date.

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**Exhibition Information**:
Eva Jospin
*Grottesco*
December 10, 2025–March 15, 2026
Le Grand Palais
25 Avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008 Paris

**Le Grand Palais**: [Website](https://www.grandpalais.fr/en) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/le_grand_palais/?hl=fr)

*My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by le Grand Palais.*

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