From October 22 to 25, a venue usually closed to the public is opening its doors for a one-off event: Prune Nourry’s studio, located in the heart of Saint-Denis – Pleyel station. A unique opportunity to take a closer look at the 108 sculptures that will soon form a monumental artwork in the station. And it’s free!
108 sculptures are soon to be installed at a height of 27 metres
In this studio set up in the heart of the station, Prune Nourry has created 108 sculptures entitled ‘Les Vénus dionysiennes’. Standing approximately 1.70 metres tall, they were designed to form part of a monumental and enduring work conceived by the artist in dialogue with the architecture of Saint-Denis–Pleyel station, designed by the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.
From 2027, the sculptures will gradually leave the studio to take their place at the heart of the station. They will then be installed on either side of the escalators, reaching heights of up to 27 metres, like a huge vertical museum at the heart of the underground.
In other words, the best time to discover them is now because, for four days only, you’ll be able to walk amongst this veritable ‘army of Venus’, view the sculptures up close and take the time to admire the details of their materials before they are permanently installed within the station’s architecture. And it’s free! All you need to do is register:
Venus figures inspired by women from Saint-Denis
In creating these sculptures, Prune Nourry drew inspiration from the earliest depictions of women in prehistory, particularly the Palaeolithic Venuses, which were created around 20,000 to 30,000 years ago.
But the Dionysian Venuses are not merely archaeological references; they also tell the story of a region and of the women who live there today. The artist therefore took an interest in the stories of women from Saint-Denis and, in collaboration with several local organisations, led a participatory project entitled ‘La Terre qui m’est Chair’.
Women from Dionysia were invited to bring a handful of earth that held special significance for them: earth from their garden, from the place where they grew up, or from a place that plays an important part in their daily lives. These different types of earth were incorporated into the very heart of the 108 sculptures.
The work thus becomes literally linked to the local area: each Venus carries within her a fragment of Saint-Denis and a personal story.
Prune Nourry has also worked with the Maison des femmes de Saint-Denis. In particular, eight women posed for her, striking the poses of prehistoric female sculptures, whilst sharing fragments of their stories which inspired her work.
Prune Nourry, an artist who brings materials to life
This emphasis on the earth is by no means insignificant in Prune Nourry’s work. Having graduated in woodcarving from the École Boulle in 2006, the artist has been working for nearly twenty years in the fields of sculpture, installation and performance. Her works explore, in particular, the body, the place of women, fertility, demographic imbalances and our relationship with living things.
But clay remains at the heart of her practice. She particularly appreciates it for its simplicity and universality: a material that can be moulded and transformed and which, unlike more precious materials, has survived for millennia in the form of archaeological remains.
This fascination with ‘armies’ of sculptures can be seen in one of her best-known works, Terracotta Daughters. Inspired by the famous Terracotta Army in Xi’an, Prune Nourry created 108 life-size female sculptures based on eight models of young Chinese girls. In Saint-Denis, she revisits this idea of a multitude of sculptures forming a whole, but this time anchors it in the history and present of the Île-de-France region.
Why the number ‘108’?!
The number 108 has become a true hallmark of Prune Nourry’s work. It all began with Terracotta Daughters, her army of sculptures created in 2013: at the time, the artist chose this number almost intuitively. She started with the number 8, a lucky number in China and a symbol of infinity, but was looking for a number greater than 80 without going as far as 800 sculptures, which would have been too many to create.
She finally settled on 108. It was only later that she discovered this number holds sacred significance in several Asian traditions: it features notably in Buddhism, Taoism and Shintoism, as exemplified by the 108 beads on Buddhist prayer beads. For Prune Nourry, the numbers 1, 0 and infinity can also evoke the cosmos. Since then, the number 108 has featured throughout her work.
When a railway station also becomes a venue for art
This special opening also offers the chance to discover another side to the Grand Paris Express. The new metro project comprises 200 kilometres of new automated lines and 68 new stations, with the aim of improving connections between the major centres of life and activity in Île-de-France, whilst opening up previously isolated areas.
But the Grand Paris Express is about more than just transport infrastructure. The project also involves a major artistic commission for the 21st century: artists and architects are working together to create works designed to engage with the local areas and integrated directly into the new stations.
Ultimately, more than 500 works are set to be created across the network, including 70 permanent installations and illustrations displayed on the platforms. Sculptures, light installations, murals, digital artworks… The forms will be as diverse as the artists who conceive them.
And this weekend, there’s even more to see
The opening of the workshop will not be the only highlight, as a major exhibition dedicated to the collection of future artworks for the Grand Paris Express will also be on display at the station. It will offer visitors the chance to discover the artistic projects designed for the network’s various stations.
Practical Informations
Adress
First floor of Saint-Denis – Pleyel station
Metro line 14
Opening hours
From Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 October 2026
From 12 noon to 7 pm
FAQ – Prune Nourry’s studio in Saint-Denis – Pleyel
When can we visit Prune Nourry’s studio in Saint-Denis – Pleyel?
Prune Nourry’s studio will be opening its doors to the public on an exceptional basis from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 October 2026, from 12 noon to 7 pm. It is located on the first floor of Saint-Denis – Pleyel station.
Is admission to Prune Nourry’s workshop free?
Yes, admission is free, subject to registration during the four days the workshop is open to the public. You can register here.
Where is Prune Nourry’s studio?
Prune Nourry’s studio is located on the first floor of Saint-Denis – Pleyel station, which can be reached via Metro line 14, amongst other routes.
What can you see in Prune Nourry’s studio?
During this special opening, visitors can view the 108 Dionysian Venus sculptures before they are permanently installed in the station. This is an opportunity to view them up close and walk amongst the sculptures, as they will subsequently be installed in the atrium at a height of up to 27 metres.
What are Prune Nourry’s Dionysian Venuses?
The Dionysian Venuses is a monumental and enduring work by Prune Nourry, comprising 108 sculptures, each 1.70 metres high. They will be installed in 2027 in the atrium of Saint-Denis–Pleyel station, on either side of the escalators, reaching a height of up to 27 metres.
Why did Prune Nourry create 108 Venuses?
The number 108 holds a special place in Prune Nourry’s work. The artist originally chose it for Terracotta Daughters, before discovering its sacred significance in several Asian traditions. Since then, the number 108 has become a recurring theme in her work. The Dionysian Venuses thus form part of this artistic continuity.
What inspired the Dionysian Venuses?
The sculptures draw inspiration in particular from the earliest depictions of women from the Palaeolithic period, dating back 20,000 to 30,000 years, as well as from the stories of women from Saint-Denis. Their creation is therefore linked both to art history and to the local area in which they will be installed.
What is the connection between the Dionysian Venuses and Saint-Denis?
Prune Nourry wanted to anchor her work in the Saint-Denis area. As part of the participatory project ‘La Terre qui m’est Chair’, women from Saint-Denis contributed samples of soil that held personal significance for them. These samples will be incorporated into the very heart of the 108 sculptures.
When will the Dionysian Venuses be installed in the station?
The 108 Venus sculptures will be installed during 2027 in the atrium of Saint-Denis – Pleyel station on either side of the escalators, reaching heights of up to 27 metres.
What role does the Grand Paris Express play in this art project?
The Grand Paris Express is commissioning a major programme of art to accompany the construction of its new stations. Artists and architects are working together to design artworks intended to engage with the local areas and the architecture of the stations. Ultimately, more than 500 artworks are set to be created.
What works of art can you discover in the Grand Paris Express stations?
The Grand Paris Express stations will showcase a wide variety of artworks: sculptures, light installations, murals, digital artworks and illustrations. An exhibition held to mark the special opening of Prune Nourry’s studio also offers visitors the chance to discover the collection of future artworks for the Grand Paris Express.
Why should you visit Prune Nourry’s studio this weekend?
Because this is an exceptional and temporary opening. From 22 to 25 October 2026, the public can view the 108 Venuses up close, before they are permanently installed in the station’s atrium in 2027. This is therefore a unique opportunity to see the sculptures before they take their place high up in Saint-Denis–Pleyel station.
