The exhibition Insider‑Outsider is a virtual reality experience presented at the Grand Palais, promoted in collaboration with the Centre Pompidou as part of the show Art brut. Dans l’intimité d’une collection. La donation Decharme. Running from June 20 to September 21, 2025, the installation was conceived by musician Philippe Cohen Solal (Gotan Project) in collaboration with Mike Lindsay, and produced by Lucid Realities and Science & Mélodie. Visitors, equipped with VR headsets, are immersed in the visionary universe of outsider artist Henry Darger, known for his epic illustrated cycles populated by the Vivian Girls engaged in imaginary battles against dark forces. Beginning with a faithful reconstruction of Darger’s workspace, created by Jérôme Clermont’s Atelier Obermant, the experience combines 2D/3D animations, pop music, and live performance excerpts from the album Outsider, offering a multisensory, interactive, and poetic journey. This is not merely a tribute to Darger, but a deep exploration of the boundary between creative solitude and emotional connection, questioning the nature of marginal art and its power to move audiences. Insider‑Outsider thus acts as a bridge between Art Brut and high technology, providing visitors with a transformative experience that reflects the emotional and visual complexity of Henry Darger’s inner cosmos.
