Some may have questioned whether flowers could still be a relevant motif in contemporary art today after some major floral artworks failed to please certain critics at Frieze London recently. But a certain thoughtfully curated flower-themed art exhibition staged by a historic perfume and beauty brand in Paris may go a certain way toward restoring faith in the colorful blooms as among the most enigmatic and provocative subject for artists from around the world.
Curated by Hervé Mikaeloff, a curator and art consultant based in Paris, the exhibition “Les Fleurs du Mal” (“The Flowers of Evil”), which pays homage to the poetry of Charles Baudelaire, is a delightful surprise. It sheds a new light on the beauty of flowers and floral artworks, and the ways they represent the fragility and sensuality of human nature and emotions.
Opened during the week of Paris+ by Art Basel across three floors of Maison Guerlain, the historic boutique of the eponymous 195-year-old florist, perfume, and skincare house on Avenue des Champs-Elysées, the exhibition features works by 26 international artists. They come in a range of media—from paintings and sculptures to photography and installations—and there’s no lack of compelling, memorable pieces.
Hymne à la Rose (2022), by the Madagascar-born Joël Andrianomearisoa, for example, is a site-specific sound installation featuring 42 metallic sculptural roses in a dark room filled with the vocals of Moroccan singer Hindi Zahra and Guerlain’s fragrance Épices volées.
A pair of rose sculptures by the Tel Aviv–based Roni Landa may look ordinary at first glance, but it gives a jolt when the viewer realizes how erotic it is. There are also highly symbolic photographic works by the famed Japanese artist and photographer Nobuyoshi Araki and Chinese artist Jiang Zhi, and a rare 2012 watercolor by Anselm Kiefer that is vastly different from the heavy, monumental works for which the artist is better known.
The exhibition’s opening also coincided with the launch of the Lee Ufan Arles and Maison Guerlain Art and Environment Prize. A jury presided over by the Korean-born artist handpicked the French artist Djabril Boukhenaïssi as the winner and four other finalists among the 381 applications. Boukhenaïssi will be awarded a six- to eight-week residency opportunity followed by a solo exhibition in the Espace MA of Lee Ufan Arles in summer 2024.
“Les Fleurs du Mal” runs until November 13. Below are some of the highlights from the exhibition.
Jiang Zhi, Love letter no. 25 (2014). Installation view, “Les Fleurs du Mal” at Maison Guerlain. Photo by Tomy Do.
Roni Landa, Rose Labia (2023). Installation view, “Les Fleurs du Mal” at Maison Guerlain. Photo by Tomy Do.
Roni Landa, Flora Erecta (2023). Installation view, “Les Fleurs du Mal” at Maison Guerlain. Photo by Tomy Do.
Nobuyoshi Araki, Sans titre. Courtesy the artist and Galerie Mennour. Installation view, “Les Fleurs du Mal” at Maison Guerlain. Photo by Tomy Do.
Anselm Kiefer, Extases féminines–Margherite Porete (2012). Installation view, “Les Fleurs du Mal” at Maison Guerlain. Photo by Tomy Do.
Pauline d’Andigné, Flowers (2023). Installation view, “Les Fleurs du Mal” at Maison Guerlain. Photo by Tomy Do.
Duy Anh Nhan Duc, Constellation (2019). Installation view, “Les Fleurs du Mal” at Maison Guerlain. Photo by Tomy Do.
Jean-Philippe Delhomme, Roses et Matisse (2023). Installation view, “Les Fleurs du Mal” at Maison Guerlain. Photo by Tomy Do.
Mykola Tolmachev, Dégel (no 1) (2023). Installation view, “Les Fleurs du Mal” at Maison Guerlain. Photo by Tomy Do.
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