Masterpieces from all over the world
Until September 27, HDE Var presents an exceptional exhibition of 235 masterpieces of Andean civilizations.
The landmark exhibition "Inca. L’héritage sacré des Andes" opened to the public on June 20 at the Hôtel Départemental des Expositions du Var (HDE Var) in Draguignan. It promises a unique visual and sensory immersion into the heart of more than three millennia of pre-Columbian history, through 235 remarkable pieces from leading international collections.
Treasures
The public can admire treasures made of ceramic, textile, gold, silver, stone, and feathers, some of which will be presented for the very first time outside of Peru, and on exclusive display in Draguignan. These exceptional loans come from prestigious institutions such as the Musée Larco and the Musée d’Art de Lima (MALI) in Peru, but also from the musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, the British Museum in London, the Museo de América in Madrid, the MAS Museum in Antwerp, and the Musée des Amériques d’Auch.
The tour, organized both thematically and chronologically across the three levels of the HDE Var, explores the Chavín, Nasca, Mochica, Huari, and Chimu cultures, up to the peak of the Inca Empire. Thus, the exhibition highlights a worldview deeply marked by sacredness. In this holistic conception, every element of the universe – mountains, sea, living beings, objects – is animated by a living and sacred energy. Far from being reduced to a simple religion, the sacred in the Andes manifests as a network of dynamic relationships, an interconnected and ritually active world.
Heritage
The tour aims to show how these societies materialized this conception to organize their collective life, through space, rituals, art, and myths. It reveals the spiritual common thread that unifies the diversity of this heritage, and how the Incas established their power on a centralized "sacred order", the pillar of their governance until the arrival of the conquistadors in the 16th century. By exploring this cosmovision where art, power, and the sacred intertwine, the exhibition offers a unique perspective on the challenges of our current societies. It invites reflection on our connection to nature, the fragility of collective memories, and our relationship with the land, reminding us that other ways of inhabiting the world, based on interdependence and respect for the living, are possible.
Practical information
Hôtel Départemental des Expositions du Var (HDE Var). 1, boulevard Maréchal Foch in Draguignan. Open daily from 10 am to 7 pm. Ticketing and information on: https://hdevar.fr/
The HDE Var, a cultural facility of excellence
Inaugurated in 2021 by the Département, the Hôtel Départemental des Expositions du Var is housed in the historic building of the first Archives départementales, entirely renovated to meet the most demanding conservation standards. With its 650 m² of spaces spread over three levels, it has established itself as a leading cultural venue. Under the scientific direction of Ricardo Vazquez, Chief Curator of Heritage, the institution offers a varied program around its exhibitions, with tours, lectures, and educational workshops. In 2025, more than 10,000 people, including 2,700 schoolchildren, participated in these activities.
Article from the paper edition of La Gazette du Var