Created at the initiative of Bernard Arnault by Frank Gehry, the Fondation Louis Vuitton, located in Paris, supports French and international contemporary artistic creation and makes it accessible to as many people as possible.
Opened on Monday, October 20, 2014 by the French President François Hollande and Bernard Arnault, the Fondation Louis Vuitton asserts and continues LVMH and Louis Vuitton’s commitment to sponsoring the arts and culture. It enhances the heritage of Paris with a monument that symbolizes 21st century architecture.
An exceptional building
Frank Gehry designed a building which, through its creativity and daring, represents the first work of art at the Fondation Louis Vuitton. Rising among the century-old trees of the Jardin d’Acclimatation, standing on a mirror of water, it integrates harmoniously into its natural wooded surroundings, with which the building initiates a real dialogue.
“To reflect a constantly changing world, we wanted to design a building that evolves depending on the time of day and the light, in order to create an impression of intangibility and continual transformation,” explains Frank Gehry.
A host of exceptional technological innovations allowed the building’s artistic ambition to be achieved. Both in the design of the concept itself and the approach to construction work, the Fondation Louis Vuitton project turned the principles of architecture upside down.
Finally, it should be emphasized that the Fondation Louis Vuitton was chosen as a pilot project for the creation of a new HQE® standard (High Environmental Quality).
Artistic program
A permanent collection, temporary exhibits, artistic commissions and many multidisciplinary events – musical performances in particular – punctuate the calendar of the Fondation Louis Vuitton.
From fall 2014 to spring 2015, the Fondation is being opened in several phases, each based on an exhibition, a specific choice from the Collection – made up of works belonging to the Fondation and Bernard Arnault’s personal collection -, as well as various multidisciplinary events. The Fondation’s collection, whose artistic direction is overseen by Suzanne Pagé, is designed from assertive and identifying selections expressed by Bernard Arnault. It includes works by Gerhard Richter, Thomas Schütte, Pierre Huyghe, Bertrand Lavier, Christian Boltanski and Frank Stella. Commissions have been awarded to several internationally renowned artists – Ellsworth Kelly, Olafur Eliasson, Taryn Simon, Sarah Morris, Cerith Wyn Evans, etc.
With regards to the temporary collections, a monographic exhibition by Olafur Eliasson was presented during the winter of 2015. In the spring, the Les Clefs d’une passion exhibition brings together a collection of exceptional works, some of which are on loan from the world’s most important museums. Finally, music occupies a central position in the life of the Fondation Louis Vuitton. The Auditorium is given over to encounters between musicians and artists from all the disciplines of contemporary creation. The Fondation’s artistic program illustrates Frank Gehry’s intention: “To design a magnificent vessel in Paris that symbolizes France’s cultural vocation.”
For more information : fondationlouisvuitton.fr
images by Todd Eberle, Iwan Baan, Courtesy of L'Observatoire International
structure diagrams by Fondation Louis Vuitton
