Aborted plans for Paris’ Ile Seguin Art Island could be revived by Laurent Dumas

After an initial project by François Pinault went awry in the early 2000s, and following Yves Bouvier’s legal troubles — Bouvier was responsible for the creation of a Parisian “Art Island”  — the construction of R4 at the tip of the island located in Boulogne-Billancourt in the Parisian suburbs might see an unexpected development.

Laurent Dumas, president of real estate group Emerige and avid contemporary art collector, has infact announced the resumption of the project, following the conclusion of an agreement with Nelly Wenger, programming director at R4. Whilst Yves Bouvier has already “invested” €16 million in the €150 million project, bringing together galleries, production sites, auction houses and storage spaces in a five-storey, 30,000 square-meter space built by Jean Nouvel — the renowned freeport owner will no longer be part of the endeavour.

Laurent Dumas, and the patronage scheme of his group Emerige — which holds an annual award for emerging artistic talent — may be able to reassure local politicians and other sceptics, who are currently veering between irritation and discouragement. No details have been revealed today, but in a statement Laurent Dumas argued that, “the sustainability of the cultural project planned for the tip of the île Seguin is ensured,” adding that, “Emerige and its partners will do everything in their power to realise this long awaited project.”

Dumas is not alone in his commitment to the project. Also involved is the AOG Addax & Oryx Group, based in Geneva and owned by billionaire Claude Gandur, who made his fortune from the resale of oil reserves in 2009.