Buren's 'Observatory of Light' at Fondation Louis Vuitton
On my last trip to Paris, I made the trip to visit Fondation Louis Vuitton, the stunning Frank Gehry-designed building that opened in 2014. Not only did I want to see the building itself, but the latest installation by French artist, Daniel Buren. Named 'Observatory of Light', Buren created his installation by covering the glass sails of the building with coloured filters that create incredible floods and designs of light throughout the day. Known for his in-situ works of art, the filters cover the 3,600 pieces of glass that comprise the 'sails' of the building in a chequerboard design.
The Fondation Louis Vuitton building is an arts centre in the Jardin d'Acclimation (on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne) designed by Canadian architect Frank Gehry, who created it to resemble a cloud of glass. Inside, you can explore 11 galleries that hold both permanent collections of contemporary art, and temporary exhibitions, as well as education and auditorium facilities. The Fondation is completely privately owned, supported by LVMH and Bernard Arnault, took a dozen years to develop, and approximately $135 M.
Buren's Observatory of Light exhibit will be in place until April 2017, so put it high on your list to check out if you're visiting Paris in the next few months. It's mesmerizing to walk through to see the light create kaleidoscope patterns and pools of light around you from the different colours on the sails. You won't be disappointed!
