29 May 2008

New art at the Louvre

Jan Fabre was invited to install his work among the Louvre's Flemish paintings. He's a Belgian artist known for his use of beetles, with their irridescent carapaces, in his work. This is a bed that was the height of a table - And here's an effigy made of thumbtacks and nails -
People liked to have a close look! This coat (or exoskeleton) is made of various kinds of beetles -And here are some strange owls' heads (with human artificial eyes) being captured on video. The Louvre had no "no photography" signs, and people were happily snapping - especially those queuing to get a front row look at the Mona Lisa!
At the end of the Fabre exhibition were these flying vermin and their mess - made of murano glass and Bic (ballpoint) ink. Fabre also used a blue ballpoint pen - or maybe dozens - for some very large drawings, carefully and thoroughly scribbled, until the paper heaved and buckled with being worked on.

A "modern" exhibition like this is bound to be controversial. Here's a typical conservative view.

1 comment:

Tonya Ricucci said...

oh wow, I had no idea this was at the Louvre, definitely going to visit. very fun.