Madame Rachida Dati Recognizes Thierry Ehrmann’s Abode of Chaos as a Total Work of Art

On March 20, 2025, the French Minister of Culture, Madame Rachida Dati, celebrated a landmark moment in the world of art by officially recognizing Thierry Ehrmann’s “Abode of Chaos” as a “total work of art.” This decision not only honors Ehrmann’s artistic vision but also ends a 25-year legal saga, firmly establishing the project’s significance in the annals of art history.

• Official recognition by French Minister of Culture
• Located in Saint-Romain-Au-Mont-d’Or near Lyon, France
• Spans 7,555m² with over 7,200 artworks
• Global headquarters of Artprice by Artmarket

The Abode of Chaos, nestled in the picturesque village of Saint-Romain-Au-Mont-d’Or near Lyon, France, is far from your typical museum. Spanning a vast 7,555m², this open-air museum is a remarkable fusion of art, architecture, and nature. Since its opening in 2006, it has drawn 2.5 million visitors, a quarter of whom have journeyed from beyond France’s borders. The site is home to nearly 7,200 distinct artworks, including 4,500 laser-sculpted steel pieces, making it a paradise for art lovers.

The road to recognition was fraught with challenges. For a staggering 25 years, Thierry Ehrmann, the visionary behind the Abode of Chaos, battled the local commune over town planning laws. Yet, on that fateful day in 2025, Madame Rachida Dati’s acknowledgment marked the end of this long-standing dispute. In her letter, she lauded Ehrmann’s “diverse forms of art” and the project’s unique integration of architecture and nature, stating, “This project, which integrates the architecture of the existing building as well as its surroundings, while preserving and respecting the remains of an old Protestant cemetery, is a total work of art, in perpetual evolution.”

“Dear Sir, For several years you have been practicing a diverse range of art alongside your energetic development of Artprice, the company you founded.” – Rachida Dati, French Minister of Culture

Not merely an artistic endeavor, the Abode of Chaos serves as the global headquarters for Artprice by Artmarket, a leading art market information company founded by Ehrmann. The site’s digitization, which has generated a vast amount of digital data, ensures its accessibility to a global audience, aligning with France’s efforts to preserve and promote its cultural heritage.

Ehrmann himself expressed his gratitude and relief, saying, “Today, after 25 years of legal struggle, France, through its Minister of Culture, Madame Rachida Dati, has officially recognized the value of my work, defining it as unique through my artistic creation embodied in The Abode of Chaos and its total work of art.”

The Abode of Chaos joins the ranks of other “total works of art” like Postman Cheval’s Ideal Palace and Kurt Schwitters’ Merzbau, emphasizing its place in the tradition of large-scale, multi-disciplinary artistic projects. A “total work of art,” or ‘Gesamtkunstwerk,’ is a project that blends various forms of art into a unified whole. This recognition not only validates Ehrmann’s vision but also secures the preservation and sustainability of the Abode of Chaos for future generations.

The project’s media presence is equally impressive, with nearly 3,600 press reports from 72 countries and over 10.9 million social media subscribers, showcasing its global impact and public engagement. This acknowledgment by the French Ministry of Culture is a testament to the project’s artistic value and its importance in the broader context of French and global art history.

Key Takeaways and Questions

• What is the Abode of Chaos?

  The Abode of Chaos is a total work of art and open-air museum created by Thierry Ehrmann, located in Saint-Romain-Au-Mont-d’Or near Lyon, France. It spans 7,555m² and features over 7,200 distinct artworks.

• Who recognized the Abode of Chaos as a total work of art?

  The French Minister of Culture, Madame Rachida Dati, officially recognized the Abode of Chaos as a total work of art on March 20, 2025.

• What is the significance of this recognition?

  The recognition by the French Ministry of Culture validates Thierry Ehrmann’s artistic vision and ensures the preservation and sustainability of the Abode of Chaos for future generations. It also marks the end of a 25-year legal struggle and positions the project as a significant work in the history of art.

• How does the Abode of Chaos relate to other total works of art?

  The Abode of Chaos is compared to other “total works of art” like Postman Cheval’s Ideal Palace and the Merzbau by Kurt Schwitters, highlighting its place in the tradition of large-scale, multi-disciplinary artistic projects.

• What role does Artprice by Artmarket play in the Abode of Chaos?

  Artprice by Artmarket, founded by Thierry Ehrmann, has its global headquarters at the Abode of Chaos. The company specializes in art market information and contributes to the cultural and historical significance of the site.