Dog Art Today

Tag: Versailles

  • French Prince Thinks Murakami’s Dog is Grotesque

     

      Murakami_Pom_Me_Versailles

    Pom and Me by Takashi Murakami

    The Independent's Molly McGuinnes reports from Paris:

    A descendant of France's King Louis XIV is seeking a court order to halt a radical contemporary exhibition by Takashi Murakami in the royal apartments at Versailles because it sullied "supreme good French taste".

    Prince Sixte-Henri de Bourbon-Parme launched his legal action to rid the palace's ornate halls of the fiberglass cartoon figures and giant Buddha statues, calling for "respect of the château and of his ancestors".

    "There are puppets in that exhibition that are frankly grotesque," he said. "Versailles was conceived with the idea of displaying the essence of supreme good French taste.  (read full story)

    There are some who might think the ostentatiousness of Versailles is grotesque, given that it sucked all the money out of the treasury for pure Narcissistic self-indulgence.  And, there are some, like me, who think Prince Sixte-Henri's 2007 support of far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen, is even more grotesque. Seriously, if you're going to cling to your title, go race cars or grow organic vegetables like a normal, modern prince, and stop picking fights with cartoon characters.  It's unseemly.

    P.S. Prince Sixte-Henri's nephew, Charles-Emmanuel de Bourbon-Parme wasn't keen on Jeff Koons's dog at Versaille either.  Remember that story?

  • Jeff Koons Opens at Versailles

    Jeff Koons’s Let Them See Kitsch exhibition opens today at Versailles.  The installation of his works in the historic palace created controversy when it was announced this summer, and continues to offend.

    Jeff_koons_magenta_dog

    Magenta (via Kathleen Anderson’s flickr site) in the…

    Salon_d_Hercule

    …Salon d’Hercule.  Looks like…

    Jeff_koons_versailles_dog

    …this.

    I am divided about the show.  I like the idea of contemporary art juxtaposed with “sacred symbols of heritage and identity,” but given that much of the $3 million project was funded by French billionaire, Francois Pinault, who owns more than a dozen of Koons’s works, I wonder if this is not just a way to juice the artist’s asking price. 

    And, quite frankly, I think if Koons doesn’t rein it in, his work will become the Golden Arches of the art world.  But I guess for an artist that is a high class problem.

    (Magenta in the Salon d’Hercule photo via AFP.  See more photos of the exhibition here.)

  • Jeff Koons Takes His Dog To Versailles

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    Kathleen Anderson's stunning photo of Magenta outside Palazzo Grassi, Venice.  March 1, 2007. Via her flickr site

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    There were mixed reactions last week when it was announced that prolific kitschy pop artist Jeff Koons's work will be on display in the salons of Versailles this fall.  Most notably, for Dog Art Today readers, Magenta, his massive chrome balloon dog will take a place of honor in the former palace's Salon d'Hercule.  The modern sculpture will be juxtaposed beside Veronese's le Repas chez Simon.

    Salon d'Hercule

    Salon d'Hercule, Versailles

    Le Repas chez Simon

    Le Repas Chez Simon by Veronese, 1576

    According to Lizzy Davies of The Guardian, there is both excitement about bringing contemporary art into the hallowed national treasure and utter horror that anyone would do so.  But, it's happening.  Many of Koons's most famous works will be on display in the salons and gardens starting September 10 until December 14, 2008. 

    Read more here.