Updated on July 29, 2026
The installation features giant figures of birds, butterflies, and flowers, designed to withstand outdoor conditions while retaining their lightness.
Since early June, several facades of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer have been adorned with giant figures created by Christine Marchal, founder of the Madame Ernest agency, and Céline Pagès, an artist with a degree in Arts & Scenography from the Pavillon Bosio in Monaco. This creative duo has once again joined forces to create “Paper Story,” a monumental installation inspired by origami. Paper swallows, parrots, European bee-eaters, butterflies, and flowers take flight across the Resort’s iconic locations, inviting visitors to soar to new heights and celebrate “bliss”. Meet the artist.
For several years now, your work has been part of the world of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer. How did this collaboration begin ?
Céline Pagès : After graduating from the Pavillon Bosio and winning the Prince’s Prize in 2020, I designed more than 150 compass roses for Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer in 2022. This was also my first collaboration—the first of many—with Christine Marchal and her agency, Madame Ernest. The themes of movement and expansion remained central to the projects that followed, including Comme un enfant, as well as the installations inspired by The Sea is Green and Glow Up since 2025.
Why was origami chosen for this new installation ?
Céline Pagès : Origami was part of the proposed theme, and it tied in very naturally with my research. Paper is the common thread running through my artistic journey. I am interested in its movement, its translucency, its apparent fragility, and the way it can occupy space.
How can such a delicate material withstand outdoor exposure ?
Céline Pagès : We used a technical paper developed and produced by a French workshop. It is suitable for outdoor use, water-repellent, fire-retardant, and manufactured using an eco-friendly, PVC-free process. The shapes are formed by extremely fine metal structures, inspired in particular by Japanese and Chinese lanterns. This combination maintains a sense of lightness while meeting the requirements for strength and safety.
Who are the main characters in Paper Story ?
Céline Pagès : The exhibition features fourteen birds (seven swallows, three parrots, two European bee-eaters, and two chickadees), as well as five flowers and more than fifty butterflies. The most impressive pieces are the two large swallows installed on the awning of the Monte-Carlo Casino, which are 2.20 meters tall and weigh less than ten kilograms each. Some of the butterflies, meanwhile, measure nearly three meters across on the facade of the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo.
How did you decide where to place them throughout the resort ?
Céline Pagès : We wanted the artworks to accompany the walk and create a sense of continuity. They can be seen around the Monte-Carlo Casino, the Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, Amazonico Monte-Carlo, the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo and its patio, the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, Avenue des Beaux-Arts, and the François Blanc roundabout. A swallow has also been placed at the entrance to the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo, near the restaurant L'Hirondelle.
Why this fascination with birds ?
Céline Pagès : They symbolize freedom, energy, taking flight, and the return of life in spring. They are with us everywhere—in our cities and on our travels—though we don’t always take the time to look at them. The idea of life reawakening and a season taking flight was therefore particularly prominent.
The installation looks different by day than it does by night...
Céline Pagès : During the day, the shapes draw the eye upward toward the facades. They appear like paper silhouettes—graphic, colorful, and very airy. At night, the lighting reveals their interior structure. The paper becomes translucent, revealing the architecture of each room. This was one of the main challenges of the project, and this nighttime view is essential to me.
Ultimately, what emotion do you hope to convey to visitors ?
Céline Pagès : I want them to feel accompanied on their stroll, but also surprised. One word sums up quite accurately what I’m trying to express: bliss. For me, it evokes that sense of lightness, peaceful joy, and wonder that is so integral to the art of living in Monte Carlo.
A floral blossom indoors
The poetry of paper is also on display throughout our properties. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of artist Margherita Dallaiti, who has created delicate paper floral bouquets to enhance the properties of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer.
Read the interview with Margherita Dallaiti
Experience the Glow Up Monte-Carlo summer
The Paper Story installation is one of the highlights of our summer transformation. To make sure you don’t miss any of the activities, evening events, and magical decorations bringing the Resort to life this summer, explore our full program.
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