Monumenta: creation by Huang Yong Ping
LVMH
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Huang Yong Ping, Empires MONUMENTA 2016 © Adagp, Paris 2016
A marquee event on the arts calendar, Monumenta each year presents an outsized contemporary art work in the immense nave of the Grand Palais. A loyal patron of this major cultural event since 2007, LVMH is this year supporting an installation by Chinese artist Huang Yong Ping entitled Empires.
Monumenta unveiled the stunning work by Huang Yong Ping under the nave of the Grand Palais at the beginning of May. The exhibition in the immense space – spanning 13,500 square meters and 45 meters in height – follows previous editions featuring works by Anselm Kiefer, Richard Serra, Christian Boltanski, Anish Kapoor, Daniel Buren and Ilya and Emilia Kabakov. The spectacular creation by the Chinese artist is entitled Empires.
A reflection on the transformations that are reshaping our world, the installation evokes the power of world trade through a landscape of stacked containers. An enormous metal skeletal snake emerges from amidst these tons of merchandise, undulating beneath the glass canopy of the Grand Palais, twisting between a crane and a giant version of Napoleon Bonaparte’s bicorne hat, a symbol of the power of the empire. First conceived by the artist in 2006, the work is rich in artistic expression and symbolism, bridging Chinese and Western cultures.
LVMH continues to support this dialogue between cultures through its sixth consecutive year of support for Monumenta. The Group has sponsored the event since 2007, enabling a wide public to experience major contemporary artworks. This support for the installation by Huang Yong Ping, a key figure in the Chinese avant-garde, resonates with the arts and culture program at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, which is featuring China and Chinese contemporary artists throughout 2016.
The Monumenta exhibition runs until June 18.