The Fondation Cartier is celebrating its thirty-year anniversary this year and has an impressive lineup of contemporary artists for the occasion. This round features Diller Scofidio + Renfro who have created Musings on a Glass Box, an installation that surprises, intrigues, and inspires visitors to communicate with each other.
Glass Box is an homage to Jean Nouvel who designed the current Fondation building in 1994. His use of glass at the time was novel and mostly unseen in Paris. Diller Scofidio + Renfro’s installation is located on the ground floor of the center in the architecture and creative studio, and it puts Nouvel’s work in the spotlight. Playing on the idea that all buildings age with time and leaks can appear here and there, the studio created a kind of leak in the ceiling, turning it into a work of art that spans the entire floor and uses sound as well as image. Visitors discover that a small drop of water in a bucket can become entrancing, engaging, and can make them question what they are truly experiencing. The installation, which at first glance seems bare, will leave visitors eager to discuss amongst themselves and share their experiences.
Musings on a Glass Box, Fondation Cartier, 261 boulevard Raspail. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 11am to 8pm. Open until 10pm on Tuesdays. More information available on the Fondation Cartier website.
