God Machines’ by Robert Longo, Paris
God Machines exhibition of work by Robert Longo at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris 'Untitled (Mecca)', 2011
(Image credit: Robert Longo)

Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac marks its twentieth year at the vanguard of the Paris art scene this month with an apocalyptic-sounding solo show of work by Robert Longo, titled 'God Machines'. A long-time collaborator of the gallery, the American artist takes the typically intimate practice of drawing in charcoal and translates it into works on a monumental scale, this time covering almost all the walls of the main exhibition space with his epic depictions of places of religious worship.

These multi-panelled works have an assertive physical presence. Longo has always used graphite as if it were clay, whether capturing the writhing figures in his seminal 'Men in the Cities' series (1979) or the billowing clouds of the sky in 'Magellan (Plane)' (1996), and its his sculptural play with light and dark that gives the God Machines series its power. Though detailed, the scenes he captures - of the sacred spaces of three different religions, including Mecca in Saudi Arabia, St Peter's Basilica in Rome and the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem - are actually highly abstract on closer inspection.

Like with most of his oeuvre, the God Machines series mixes the personal with the politically charged. Also on show at Galerie Thaddaeus' Paris gallery are single-panel works of the themes and images that have captivated him in recent years - a disparate bunch, including burqa-clad women, waves, forests, tigers and rock concerts.

Longo, who also doubles as a musician (he played at the gallery's anniversary celebrations at the weekend) and has even directed a major motion picture (Johnny Mnemonic, staring Keanu Reeves and Takeshi Kitano, in 1995), is one of Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac's pivotal American artists. Back in 1991, his 'Faith in Zero Project' dissected the Paris gallery with a 3D rendering of the American Flag and in 1993 his 'Body Hammer, Cult of the Gun' held the gallery's Salzburg HQ hostage. So he's an apt choice of artist to mark this milestone in Thaddaeus Ropac's history.

God Machines’ by Robert Longo, Paris

God Machines exhibition of work by Robert Longo at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris
'Untitled (White Tiger)', 2011

(Image credit: Robert Longo)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo and images from the archive of Gallery Thaddeaus Ropac

God Machines exhibition of work by Robert Longo at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris
'Untitled (Barbara in a Burka, Paris 2/2)', 2011

(Image credit: Robert Longo)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo and images from the archive of Gallery Thaddeaus Ropac

God Machines exhibition of work by Robert Longo at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris
'Untitled (Rock Band)' by Robert Longo, 2011

(Image credit: Robert Longo)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo and images from the archive of Gallery Thaddeaus Ropac

God Machines exhibition of work by Robert Longo at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris
'Untitled (Airplane windows)' by Robert Longo, 2011

(Image credit: Robert Longo)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

God Machines exhibition of work by Robert Longo at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris
'Untitled (St Peter's)' by Robert Longo, 2011

(Image credit: Robert Longo)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

God Machines exhibition of work by Robert Longo at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris
'Untitled (Wailing Wall)' by Robert Longo, 2011

(Image credit: Robert Longo)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

God Machines exhibition of work by Robert Longo at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris
'Study of Salem' by Robert Longo, 2010

(Image credit: Robert Longo)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

God Machines exhibition of work by Robert Longo at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris
'Study of Ophelia #4B' by Robert Longo, 2003

(Image credit: Robert Longo)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

God Machines exhibition of work by Robert Longo at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris
'Study of Freud's Door' by Robert Longo, 2003

(Image credit: Robert Longo)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

God Machines exhibition of work by Robert Longo at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris
'After Giovanni di Paolo, The Creation of the World and the Expulsion from Paradise, 1400 - 1482' by Robert Longo, 2011

(Image credit: Robert Longo)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

God Machines exhibition of work by Robert Longo at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris
'After the Persian Fresco, Abraham Sacrificing Ishmael (Islamic version)' by Robert Longo, 2011

(Image credit: Robert Longo)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

From Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac Paris' archives:
'Yes to All' by Sylvie Fleury, shown at the gallery in 2005

(Image credit: Robert Longo)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

From Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac Paris' archives:
Richard Deacon exhibition, 2007

(Image credit: Robert Longo)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

From Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac Paris' archives:
Philippe Bradshaw exhibition, 2008

(Image credit: Robert Longo)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

From Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac Paris' archives:
Lori Hersberger exhibition, 2005

(Image credit: Robert Longo)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

Lori Hersberger exhibition, 2003

(Image credit: press)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

Liza Lou exhibition, 2004

(Image credit: press)

Lee Bull exhibition, 2009

Lee Bull exhibition, 2009

(Image credit: press)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

Jean-Marc Bustamante exhibition, 2006

(Image credit: press)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

Jack Pierson exhibition, 2000

(Image credit: press)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

Imi Knoebel exhibition, 2001

(Image credit: press)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

Gilbert & George exhibition, 1998

(Image credit: press)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

Installation view of ‘Volk Ding Zero’ by Georg Baselitz, 2010

(Image credit: press)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

'Breathing Room' by Anthony Gormley, show at the gallery in 2006

(Image credit: press)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

The inaugural group show at the Paris gallery in 1991

(Image credit: press)

'God Machines' by Robert Longo, Paris

Gilbert & George exhibition, 2009

(Image credit: press)

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Malaika Byng is an editor, writer and consultant covering everything from architecture, design and ecology to art and craft. She was online editor for Wallpaper* magazine for three years and more recently editor of Crafts magazine, until she decided to go freelance in 2022. Based in London, she now writes for the Financial Times, Metropolis, Kinfolk and The Plant, among others.