Monumental Arc sculptures by Bernar Venet on display in Paris
Two monumental Arc sculptures by Bernar Venet are on view at the iconic Place Vendôme in Paris until 20 April 2023.
The title of this installation, La Parabole de l'Histoire (The Parable of History), is a reference to the history of the Vendôme column, which was erected by Napoleon but pulled down during the Paris Commune in 1871, before being rebuilt a few years later.
The scale and irregularity of the works interrupt the Place Vendôme’s strict geometric order, which was designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart in 1699. On one side of the square, two stacks of Arcs (84.5˚ Arc x 13, 2021) stretch out towards the sky. On the other, a seemingly random pile of collapsed Arcs (Effondrement: 55 Arcs, 2023) creates a closed circle, evoking an agora that visitors can enter.
La Parabole de l'Histoire is curated by Jérôme Sans, co-founder of Palais de Tokyo and world-renowned curator, art critic, artistic director, and director of institutions.
