Louis Vuitton Foundation : a dream come true
Between the Bois de Boulogne and Jardin d’Acclimatation, the Louis Vuitton Foundation, a new showcase for contemporary art, has just opened its doors. An international event...
First of all, there’s the building itself. A magnificent “vessel” signed Frank Gehry, the first artistic feature in this, France’s latest cultural adventure. Protected by 12 “sails” made of glass offering a fabulous play of light, this huge architectural sculpture of 11,000 m2 is set in highly modern style in a natural environment between woods and gardens. Inside, 11 galleries are devoted to the display of artworks, including some created “in situ”. Entirely dedicated to contemporary art, this extraordinary building will now come alive through presentations of its permanent collections, some belonging to Bernard Arnault (owner of LVMH and the Foundation’s Chairman), but also temporary avant-garde exhibits and live shows in the modular auditorium seating up to 1,000 spectators. For its inauguration, the Foundation invites visitors on a “voyage in creation”, allowing them to discover its amazing architecture and a number of iconic works from the permanent collection. From Frank Gehry to Gerhard Richter, Thomas Schütte to Pierre Huyghe, Christian Bolanski to Ellsworth Kelly, Olaffur Eliasson to Sarah Morris and many more, artists find here a new showcase on a par with their chosen discipline. The Foundation’s aim is to attract Parisian families as well as tourists from all four corners of the world, fans of art and architecture. They can all now explore this new monument in Paris, whose terraces offer, as a bonus, a stunning panoramic view : from the Eiffel Tower to the treetops in the Bois de Boulogne, from the “pigeonnier” in the Jardin d’Acclimatation to the skyscrapers of La Défense, a contemporary vision of the capital is presented here.
8, avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, Bois de Boulogne, Paris 16 (01 40 69 96 00) www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr
