Friday, May 13, 2011

Leviathan

Contemporary sculptor Anish Kapoor unveiled his newest artwork, "Leviathan," at the Grand Palais in Paris yesterday. The sculpture is a large balloon-like structure made of PVC-vinyl, with four orbs filling the giant nave of the building. Kapoor's goal is to "create a space within a space," where "visitors will be invited to walk inside the work, to immerse themselves in color," and hopefully have a "contemplative and poetic experience."

(Source: ParisKarin)

(Source: Co & Isa)

(Source: Co & Isa)

(Source: ParisKarin)

(Source: ParisKarin)

(Source: ParisKarin)

Kapoor is known for experimenting with scale, form, and texture, but why the color red? The artist said he was thinking about the color we see when we close our eyes and also of the experience of going inside ourselves. Knowing that a leviathan is a biblical sea monster and the gatekeeper of hell, I'm guessing that played into it as well.

I have to admit, I'm drawn to experiential artworks like this one that shake up your sense of spatial reality and alter your perspective, if only for a few minutes. Some visitors compared it to a vortex or black hole that sucks you in with an almost dizzying effect; others said it felt like being in the belly of the beast. I wish I could go back to Paris to see it for myself!

What do you guys think?

3 comments:

  1. wow, how amazing...would luv to visit, thanks for sharing...hope your weekend is fabby!

    enjoy *~*

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  2. This looks absolutely stunning. Almost like it grew in there overnight, I would definitely love to visit it.

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  3. I'm going to be in Paris in two months maybe I'll put it on my list of things to see. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete