Chanhassen (United States) (AFP)

The large white building, on the outskirts of Minneapolis in the north of the United States, could be reminiscent of an abandoned shopping mall or an office building: welcome to Paisley Park, Prince's home and musical studio, now turned into a museum.

Outside, only a large purple statue bearing the effigy of the "Love symbol" reminds visitors that the place, a complex of around 6,000 square meters, belonged to the artist who died five years ago.

Located just off a highway in the municipality of Chanhassen, Paisley Park served as the virtuoso's creative home and garden.

A sanctuary where he lived for nearly three decades before collapsing in an elevator and dying soon after of an accidental overdose of painkillers.

Sunlight penetrates through the glass pyramid that crowns the complex.

Inside, white doves watch over the large atrium painted with blue skies and cottony clouds.

With four studios and a recording set, as well as a club, Paisley Park has for years hosted artists such as Madonna, Miles Davis and Patti LaBelle, also putting on concerts and impromptu performances.

A place of pilgrimage even before the artist's death, at the age of 57, the estate has now taken on new life as a museum.

Faced with heavy tax expenditures after Prince's death, his heirs sought to monetize the place.

Six days a week, fans can enjoy guided tours that range in price from $ 45 to $ 160.

# photo1

- "A mystical aura" -

At the entrance, you must leave your mobile phone in a special pocket.

Photos are prohibited in most of the grounds, an attempt to remain in line with the artist's wishes.

"Prince has always preferred that you experience things here in Paisley through your own eyes rather than your camera," said Mitch Maguire, the resort's general manager, during an AFP visit.

According to him, "Prince really had a gift for creating a mystical aura."

The rooms where the artist lived are completely closed to access, as is the safe where he stored thousands of unpublished pieces.

# photo2

The exhibition rooms house memories of the singer and composer, between gold records, costumes in "flashy" colors, motorcycles and a purple room, a tribute to his flagship album "Purple Rain".

The recording stage, designed for concerts and tour rehearsals, is now covered with a giant screen that displays archives.

In another room, a special exhibition features hundreds of shoes made to measure for Prince - high-heeled ankle boots, platform sneakers, roller skates - whose extravagance recalls the artist's glamor side.

- "Not enough words" -

Prince was a mainstay of the Minneapolis cultural scene.

He regularly organized unannounced concerts in Paisley Park.

And years before running the museum, Mitch Maguire was a fan in the crowd.

“I think the access that we have had, as people in this community, to the genius of Prince is second to none,” he says.

As for seeing it happening here, "I don't think there are enough words in the dictionary to explain it accurately," he continues.

Paisley Park continues to host musical events and has also served as a recording studio for artists including Beck.

# photo3

"Part of preserving Prince's legacy is to continue to make this place a creative space," adds Mitch Maguire.

In 1985, two years before the venue opened to the public, the song "Paisley Park" appeared on Prince's seventh album, "Around The World In a Day".

He described a utopian community, both spiritual and concrete.

"Love is the color," sang Prince.

"The entrance is easy / You just have to say that you believe in it".

© 2021 AFP