Daniel Buren: Observatory of Light

Fondation Louis Vuitton will present a temporary work by Daniel Buren. Developed in close dialogue with the building by Frank Gehry – whose architecture serves as an inspiration to artists – “Observatory of Light” will be installed across the glass ‘sails’, the emblematic feature of the building.

The twelve ‘sails’, formed of 3,600 pieces of glass, will be covered by a staggering array of coloured filters that are in turn punctuated, at equal distances from one another, by alternating white and blank stripes perpendicular to the ground. The thirteen selected colours will make coloured forms appear and disappear, ever-changing with the time of day and the season. Through a play of colours, projections, reflections, transparencies and contrasts, both inside and outside, Daniel Buren will show this building in a new light.

Major international artist Daniel Buren (1938-FR) has been developing a radical oeuvre characterised by the use of his “visual tool” (8.7 cm-wide alternating white and coloured vertical stripes), since the 1960s. He moved from working with paint (1965-1967) to working with space and its context. All his works are now conceived specifically for the space, context and features of the host venue and are created in situ, be that in a public space or in a museum or art gallery.

“Daniel Buren has designed a grandiose project, pertinent and enchanting, the result of a real dialogue with Frank Gehry and his building. His work responds magnificently to the architecture, in line with his approach, going back to the 1970s, that sees a coming together of colours, transparency and light.” Bernard Arnault, President of the Fondation Louis Vuitton.

Marking this occasion, a catalogue – designed with the artist – will bring together, for the first time, a considerable body of works based around intersecting themes – colour, transparency, light, translucency, projection – created between the 1970s and today.