[Gallery Walk] Permanent Collection at the Louvre Museum, Otoniel's 'Jangmi' Exhibition in Korea

French contemporary artist Jean-Michel Othoniel with 'The Rose of the Louvre,' permanently housed at the Louvre Museum.
Photo by Kukje Gallery

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The Louvre Pyramid, a symbol of the Louvre Museum in France, was completed in 1989. The Louvre Pyramid is a massive glass and metal pyramid installed in the Napoleon Courtyard of the Louvre Palace.

Last year, the museum held a special exhibition to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the pyramid's completion. At that time, Jean-Michel Othoniel, a French contemporary artist famous for glass art, was also invited. Othoniel created and exhibited six paintings of roses drawn with black ink on gold leaf canvases. The museum decided to permanently house Othoniel's painting series "Roses of the Louvre" in the Puget Garden of the Louvre Pyramid.

You can now see the "Roses of the Louvre" series at the Kukje Gallery on Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Kukje Gallery is holding Othoniel's solo exhibition "New Works" until January 31 of next year. The exhibition features a total of 37 new works, including Othoniel's new glass sculptures, drawings, and paintings, displayed across two K1 exhibition spaces that reopened last year.

Through a video filmed in Paris, Othoniel explained, "The paintings exhibited in this solo exhibition at Kukje Gallery are identical in size, form, and material to the 'Roses of the Louvre' works displayed at the Louvre Museum."

Othoniel created "Roses of the Louvre" inspired by the painting "The Marriage of Marie de' Medici and Henry IV by Proxy" by German-born painter Peter Paul Rubens (1577?1640). Rubens painted a single rose on the floor of the wedding hall. The rose is also a flower symbolizing the Louvre Museum.

Exhibition view of Jean-Michel Othoniel solo exhibition 'New Works' at International Gallery
[Photo by International Gallery]

At the Kukje Gallery exhibition, Othoniel also presents four rose paintings that extend the "Roses of the Louvre" series. Additionally, four sculptures themed around roses are on display.

Othoniel explained, "I create works in the order of watercolor drawings, paintings, and sculptures," adding, "Visitors can observe the entire process of roses being expressed through paintings and sculptures."

Othoniel is originally renowned for his glass art. In 2010, during a trip to Pirozabad, India, he was deeply moved by the craftsmanship of local artisans and learned their traditional glass art techniques. Since then, he has begun showcasing collaborative works with them.

At this solo exhibition, visitors can also see new glass art pieces created in this way. Iridescent glass brick works decorate the walls of the exhibition space. The large central piece is titled "Stairs to Paradise." Othoniel explained, "It embodies the aspiration to move toward utopia."

This exhibition at Kukje Gallery is Othoniel's second solo exhibition there. Kukje Gallery previously held his solo exhibition in 2016.

Exhibition view of Jean-Michel Othoniel solo exhibition 'New Works' at Kukje Gallery
[Photo by Kukje Gallery]

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.