“Arachnéen”: An Exhibition at the Intersection of Mythology, Lace, and Contemporary Art

With “Arachnéen,” the Chantilly Lace Museum offers an artistic exploration of thread, weaving, and the networks that structure the living world. Inspired by the Greek myth of Arachne, this group exhibition creates a dialogue between textile craftsmanship, organic forms, and contemporary artistic practices. Drawing, photography, and sculpture come together in an exhibition where precision of gesture meets the lightness of structures. The works on display evoke complex networks, natural patterns, and forms that sometimes resemble scientific observations. They also invite a poetic interpretation of the world, combining mythological imagination, personal narratives, and observations of nature. Thread serves as the central theme of the exhibition. It evokes both lace and weaving, as well as the interconnectedness of living beings and natural elements. “Arachnéen” thus explores the fragility of the balances that shape our environment and how artists can express their complexity.

Brankica Žilović: An Artist at the Intersection of Drawing, Materials, and the Natural World

Brankica Žilović is among the artists featured in the “Arachnéen” exhibition at the Chantilly Lace Museum. Her participation is part of an artistic exploration of forms, networks, and the relationships between the elements that make up the living world.

Within the context of this exhibition, her work enters into a dialogue between precision of gesture, materiality, and visual poetry. The connections between lines, patterns, and structures suggest a sensitive representation of the natural world, somewhere between observation and artistic interpretation. This approach reflects the central themes of “Arachnéen”: the creation of forms through lines and networks, the relationships between material and space, and the ability of drawing to become an imprint or a map of reality. The exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to discover Brankica Žilović's work within an artistic setting that explores different ways of representing and interpreting natural structures.

Thread and Networks: Artistic Forms Inspired by the Natural World

The title “Arachnéen” refers to Arachne, a figure from Greek mythology associated with the art of weaving. This reference provides the starting point for an exploration of thread, weave, networks, and construction. In the exhibition, these concepts extend beyond the textile world to become fundamental principles of artistic creation. Lines can evoke branching plant structures, biological formations, maps, or invisible networks. The works highlight the connections between natural forms and systems created by human beings. Lace, a historic specialty of Chantilly, therefore finds a contemporary counterpart in the artistic practices presented. The delicacy of the work, the repetition of patterns, and the precision of gestures resonate with the artists' creative explorations.

The Chantilly Lace Museum: A Textile Heritage Open to Contemporary Art

Located on Avenue du Maréchal Joffre in Chantilly, in the Oise department of France, the Chantilly Lace Museum is an important institution dedicated to preserving and showcasing textile heritage and traditional lace-making craftsmanship. By hosting “Arachnéen,” the museum creates a dialogue between its historical identity and contemporary artistic creation. The exhibition brings traditional lace-making techniques into conversation with current artistic explorations in drawing, photography, sculpture, and organic structures.

This encounter between heritage and contemporary art contributes to the cultural vitality of Chantilly and the wider Oise region, while offering visitors a new way to discover the connections between craftsmanship, artistic creation, and the observation of the natural world.

A Group Exhibition Curated by Florence Cosnefroy and Pascal Neveux

The exhibition “Arachnéen” was curated by Florence Cosnefroy and Pascal Neveux, director of Frac Picardie. Their curatorial approach brings together a variety of artistic practices around shared explorations of networks, natural forms, and the relationships between materials and space. By combining different artistic perspectives, the exhibition offers multiple interpretations of the living world and its structures. It also highlights the ability of contemporary art to bring different disciplines into dialogue and renew our perception of materials, forms, and natural balances.

Visitor Information: Arachnéen Exhibition in Chantilly

• Exhibition: Arachnéen
• Dates: March 28 through August 30, 2026
• Venue: Chantilly Lace Museum
• Address: 11 Avenue du Maréchal Joffre, 60500 Chantilly, Oise, France
• Artistic disciplines: Drawing, photography, and sculpture
• Curators: Florence Cosnefroy and Pascal Neveux, Director of Frac Picardie
• Contact: +33 3 44 62 42 00