Au diapason du monde / In tune with the world

Au diapason du monde (In tune with the world) presents, in all the galleries of the Frank Gehry designed building, a new selection of artists from Fondation Louis Vuitton’s Collection, bringing together modern and contemporary artworks, of several different mediums, most of which have never before been exhibited in these spaces. More than a simple hanging of works, “Au diapason du monde” was conceived on the basis of a specific theme. The theme reflects today’s questions about man’s place in the universe and the bonds that tie him to his surrounding environment and living world, highlighting the connections between the human, animal, vegetal and mineral worlds.  

Some 29 French and international artists are presented in two complementary sequences, with works by: Giovanni Anselmo (1934, Italy), Matthew Barney (1967, USA), Christian Boltanski (1944, France), Mark Bradford (1961, USA), James Lee Byars (1932-1997, USA), Maurizio Cattelan (1960, Italy), Ian Cheng (1984, USA), Andrea Crespo (1993, USA), Trisha Donnelly (1974 , USA), Dan Flavin (1933-1996, USA), Cyprien Gaillard (1980, France), Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966, Switzerland), Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster (1965, France), Jacqueline Humphries (1960, USA), Pierre Huyghe (1962, France), Yves Klein (1928-1962, France), Mark Leckey (1990, United Kingdom), Henri Matisse (1869-1954, France), François Morellet (1926-2016, France), Takashi Murakami (1962, Japan), Philippe Parreno (1964, France), Sigmar Polke (1941-2010, Germany), Gerhard Richter (1932, Germany), Bunny Rogers (1990, USA), Wilhelm Sasnal (1972, Poland), Shimabuku (1969, Japan), Kiki Smith (1954, USA), Adrián Villar Rojas (1980, Argentina) and Anicka Yi (1971, South Korea).

This exhibition consists of two complementary sequences:

Sequence A, displayed on the 2nd floor, is dedicated to the Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, whose prolific work revolves around a culture that is both ancestral and contemporary, and upon which historical trauma and natural disasters have left a considerable mark. This presentation conceived with the artist unfolds in three parts: the first is arranged around DOB, a character invented by Murakami and considered to be his alter ego; the second around a pictorial fresco which references the story of the “Eight Immortals” of the Taoist religion; completing the display is a “Kawaii” space of sculptures and animated films.

Sequence B is spread across three sections, each presented on a different level of the building: “Irradiances” (Level 1); “Là, infiniment...” [There, infinitely…] (Level 0), “L’Homme qui chavire” [The man who capsizes] (Level -1).

“Irradiance” refers to the light beam of Dan Flavin’s work and brings together works of various media: paintings, sculptures, videos and installations. Each work is about man’s continuous dialogue with nature, exploring how different materials and their metamorphoses can create a cosmic landscape.

“Là, infiniment…” gathers artists who, by re-interpreting iconic works of art, reflect on man’s domination throughout history and his potential demise.

“L’Homme qui chavire” builds on Alberto Giacometti’s eponymous sculpture and combines works by artists of different generations around the theme of the body—a body which appears in all its forms, from its most tangible to its most imaginary, in the face of new ecological and technological challenges.

This exhibition is conceived by the Fondation Louis Vuitton’s artistic direction.

Head Curator: Suzanne Pagé
Curators: Angeline Scherf, Ludovic Delalande and Claire Staebler