Page 115 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

BEA UBOURG AND LES HALLES  113

discovered, often reflecting a
preference for the more ironic
and conceptual forms. German
artist Joseph Beuys’ Plight
(1985), for example, consists of
a grand piano in a room where
the walls are covered from
floor to ceiling with about
seven tonnes of thick felt
The Good-bye Door (1980) by Joan Mitchell arranged in rolls.
With regards to design and
Guston, Bernard Piffaretti and architecture, inflatable
Art Since 1960 Katharina Grosse. structures are explored in an
The contemporary art section Room 3 is an homage to unprecedented way with
occupies the fourth floor of the artist, philosopher, and art critic acidically coloured inflatable
Pompidou Centre and consists Pontus Hulten who was chosen pieces on display.
of approximately 500 works. by George Pompidou to plan A room is dedicated to
Jean-Michel Alberola’s and run the national museum French designer Philippe
exceptional, boldly coloured of modern art as its founding Starck’s work with items from
mural, Vous avez le bonjour de director from 1973 to 1981. the 1960s through to the
Marcel (2002) welcomes visitors This was to be one of the present day on display.
and sets the tone for the four departments of the Another room focuses on
contemporary collection. Pompidou Centre. leading young international
The collection starts with architects and
works by leading French artists designers of the
of the second half of the moment, along with
20th century: artist and a space dedicated to
sculptor Louise Bourgeois Japanese artists,
whose work is strongly including Shigeru Ban,
influenced by the Surrealists, the architect behind
Abstract Expressionism and the construction of
Minimalism, Pierre Soulages, the Pompidou Centre’s
Jean-Pierre Raynaud, François sister gallery in Metz.
Morellet and Bertrand Lavier. Homogenous Infiltration (1966) by Lastly, there is a “global” room
Yayoï Kusama’s restored Joseph Beuys bringing together major
masterpiece My Flower Bed contemporary pieces by
(1965–6), made of painted Pontus Hulten was responsible African, Chinese, Japanese and
mattress springs and stuffed for making the Musée d’art American artists. Denkifuku
gloves, is also on view. Moderne the open and cross- (1956), a dress made from light-
The display is organized disciplinary museum that its bulbs, is a key work by Atsuko
around a central aisle from founder had intended. Works Tanaka of Japan.
which the rooms holding the by Jean Tinguely, Andy Warhol, The museum gallery allows
museum’s collections lead off. and Niki de Saint Phalle are to temporary exhibitions to be
The central aisle is dotted with be found in this room. mounted from works held
sculptures including works by Certain areas in the in reserve. A graphic arts
Toni Grand, John Chamberlain Pompidou Centre have been exhibition room and a video
and Xavier Veilhan. This hall is, designated to bring together area complete the arrange-
however, dedicated principally different disciplines around a ment. A screening room gives
to painting with works by theme such as minimalist access to the museum’s entire
Gerhard Richter, Brice Marden, painting or conceptual art collection of videos of a wide
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Philip rather than a school or range of modern artists.
movement. Other rooms,
however, are artist specific
with rooms dedicated to New
Realist Martial Raysse, Robert
Filliou, Christian Botanski,
Sarkis, Joseph Beuys and
Marcel Broodthaers. These
rooms explore installation
and photography as well
as painting.
The fourth floor allows
Mobile on Two Planes (1955) by different aspects of the
Alexander Calder museum’s collections to be Le Rhinocéros (1999) by Xavier Veilhan

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