Art beneath the Tracks.
Art Venues Collection – III
Some places reveal themselves only once you cross the threshold. In Paris, in the 15th arrondissement, UNDERLINE unfolds beneath the former tracks of the Petite Ceinture (the city’s historic belt railway), spanning a series of eleven 19th-century railway vaults.
With its stone, arches, and the visible marks of time, the space captivates visitors, even before they turn their attention to the artworks themselves. Through its imposing scale and raw, unadorned materials, the site preserves the memory of its industrial past without remaining tethered to its original function.
Today, these vaulted spaces house an area dedicated to creativity, bringing together exhibitions, workshops, and various artistic projects. There are no uniform white walls here, nor is there a strictly prescribed path for visitors. Instead, the artworks inhabit an environment that already possesses a distinct identity of its own.
Open to the public since September 2026, UNDERLINE also encourages visitors to stay a while. Near the entrance, a bar, tables, and benches create a space where one can work, enjoy a drink, or simply linger. Art is not confined to exhibition areas; it is woven into a living, breathing environment.
This approach, blending creative work with everyday life, is reminiscent, in certain respects, of Andy Warhol’s “Factory”, a place where art was lived as much as it was produced. While not a replica of that legendary space, UNDERLINE echoes its core concept: transforming an artistic venue into a hub for encounters and experiences, extending well beyond the confines of a traditional gallery.
Among the featured artists, Robert JASO, a photographer represented by the contemporary art gallery KerLuxY, explores the genre of portraiture, reshaping how it is perceived through his unique technique.
Following the greenhouse at the Orangerie in Parc André-Citroën and the bunker at the Batterie Todt, the vaulted spaces of UNDERLINE offer a third way to inhabit a site through art. Three architectural settings, three histories, and three distinct approaches to making room for contemporary creation.
This is the third installment in our “Art Venues Collection”.
Mari Yvenat
Art Venues Collection – I When a greenhouse becomes an Art space
Art Venues Collection – II When a bunker becomes a Museum