Publish on Saturday, 27 December 2014 dans Museum, exhibitions
Frank Gehry has certainly made his mark on Paris this year. As well as the opening of the new Louis Vuitton Foundation building, designed by the Canadian architect, this year has also seen the first major European Frank Gehry retrospective presented at the Centre Pompidou. This is your opportunity to get up to speed with both the current and past projects of this controversial architectural genius.
Experience the pioneering vision of Frank Gehry
His buildings have become tourist attractions across the globe, and the latest Frank Gehry creation is set to continue that trend. The Louis Vuitton Foundation building was described by President Hollande as ‘a cathedral of light’ when it was opened recently, and that is just one of many ways in which this amazing art museum and cultural centre can be described. With its sweeping and billowing curves of glass it can also be likened to a sailing ship filtered through a Cubist prism. It seems to glide over a watery cascade that disappears beneath its cantilevered prow. Currently on show in the building is an exhibition demonstrating the development of the project, illustrated with numerous examples of Gehry’s models and drawings, including the large scale model that was given final approval.
Meanwhile, the Centre Pompidou is offering a captivating insight into the career and creative methods of the architect until January 26th with Frank Gehry; First Major Retrospective In Europe. Arranged both thematically and chronologically, this exhibition brings together more than 60 models and over 220 drawings and designs to trace the many significant milestones of Gehry’s architectural accomplishments. Fifty projects that best represent his work are included, including New York’s Gehry Tower, Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. As a wonderful finishing touch, the scenography of the exhibition is signed by Gehry himself. There will also be an exhaustive 260 page catalogue to accompany the exhibition.
After discovering this marvel of contemporary architecture, why not treat yourself to a little trip back in time, in one of the most unusual places in the capital, the Fairground Arst Museum?
Imagination and Magic at a Fairground Arts Museum
The fairgrounds of yesteryear are the focus of the Fairground Arts Museum located at the Pavillons de Bercy. Here you can discover the breathtaking collection put together over a thirty five year period by Jean-Paul Favand and first presented to the general public in 1996. This is a wonderland and treasure trove of colourful and charming artefacts dating from the mid 19th to mid 20th centuries. From December 26th to January 4th it is the setting for the Festival du Merveilleux, where families can join in the magic by trying out the rides, games and sideshows and be entertained by live performances.
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Fondation Louis Vuitton : 8 avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, Bois de Boulogne – Paris 16e
Tel. 0033 (0)1 40 69 96 00
Metro Les Sablons, line 1
By the Fondation shuttle (1€) : runs every 15 minutes, from Place Charles de Gaulle, on the corner of Avenue de Friedland, near the metro station.
Frank Gehry, exhibition until January 26, 2015
Centre Pompidou - Galerie 2
Place Georges-Pompidou, Paris 4e
Tel. 0033 (0)1 44 78 12 33
Metro : Rambuteau (line 11), Hôtel de Ville (lines 1 and 11), Châtelet–Les Halles (lines 1, 4, 7, 11 and 14)
RER: Châtelet–Les Halles (lines A, B and D)
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Picture 'Fish sculpture - Architect Franck Gehry (Port Olímpic, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain)' copyright holder : Architect Franck Gehry - Photographe Till Niermann - wikimedia licence GNU