The Fondation Cartier launches an all-star exhibition programme in honour of its 30th anniversary

The new multi-media exhibition
The Fondation Cartier kicks off its 30th birthday celebrations with the new multi-media exhibition titled, Vivid Memories
(Image credit: press)

The Fondation Cartier for Contemporary Art in Paris is what the French would call sans pareil (or second to none). Though an offshoot of the deluxe jewellery brand, it exists in a sort of splendid isolation from its parent, as no artist who collaborates with the Fondation is ever allowed near Cartier's product development department.

Instead, the Fondation is there to lend the brand's cultural collateral through its impressive commissioning of new work and a collection that now comprises over 1,300 pieces from artist Richard Artschwager to photographer Francesca Woodman.

This year it's 30 years old, and there's plenty to celebrate with the new exhibition, Vivid Memories, which makes the most of the Fondation's insistence on blurring boundaries between design, music, film and fine art. Jean Paul Gaultier made dresses from bread here in 2004, and the Velvet Underground spontaneously reunited for a quick gig in the grounds of its previous home, the gorgeous Chateau of Jouy-en-Josas.  

Currently Marc Newson's satin-finished Kelvin 40 prototype plane appears to have skidded into the ground floor gallery and nearly missed a dazzling new collaboration-by-email between the diminutive Italian octogenarian Alessandro Mendini (designer of the famously large and multi-coloured mosaic-speckled Poltrona chair) and British painter Peter Halley - a towering block decorated in the pulsating colours that Halley frequently uses and Mendini adores. Issey Miyake's delicate paper lanterns flutter overhead. In another room, Ron Mueck's vast sleeping woman induces vertigo, thanks to its utter defiance of normal scale.

Exhibits will rotate throughout the show's run, while one-off events will pop up all summer, including a night time introduction of the bats who live in the Fondation's beautiful stepped gardens, designed back in 1994 by artist Lothar Baumgarten. It will be led, on 12 July, by Patti Smith, another polymath who has a long and intricate relationship with the place. The exhibition program is also accompanied by a beautifully produced anniversary tome, published by Thames & Hudson, and host of other printed materials.

It turns out the company's perfume division does inhabit a few floors of the Fondation's perfectly transparent building, designed by Jean Nouvel in 1994. But not that you'd know it. Here, the art most definitely rules.

The Fondation's insistence on blurring the boundaries of design, music, film and fine art, the exhibition

Making the most of the Fondation's insistence on blurring the boundaries of design, music, film and fine art, the exhibition includes 'Kelvin 40' by Marc Newson, 2003. Courtesy of the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris © Marc Newson Ltd

(Image credit: Daniel Adric)

Projet pour le Kinshasa du troisième millenaire

In the foreground: 'Projet pour le Kinshasa du troisième millenaire' by Bodys Isek Kingelez, 1997. On the back wall: 'J'aime la couleur' by Chéri Samba, 2010.

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris and Galerie MAGNIN-A, Paris © Bodys Isek Kingelez. © Chéri Samba)

A light installation

A light installation by Issey Miyake. © Issey Miyake

(Image credit: Thomas Salva)

On the far wall: 'Vague Border at the Edge of Time/Space Project, The Primeval Fireball

On the far wall: 'Vague Border at the Edge of Time/Space Project, The Primeval Fireball: The Project for Projects' by Cai Guo-Qiang, 1991.

(Image credit: Courtesy of Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris © Cai Guo-Qiang)

The exhibition on Raveena

'Raveena' by Francesca Woodman, 1977.

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris, and George and Betty Woodman)

The Rome, Italy exhibition

'Rome, Italy' by Francesca Woodman, 1977.

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris, and George and Betty Woodman)

The Fondation Cartier has produced a book

To commemorate its thirtieth anniversary, the Fondation Cartier has produced a book with Thames & Hudson that celebrates its myriad projects and cultural achievements.

(Image credit: Jessica Klingelfuss)

In the Fondation's early days it was located in Jou-en-Josas.

In the Fondation's early days it was located in Jou-en-Josas. Since moving to Paris in 1994, the Fondation Cartier has been housed in an airy building (pictured) filled with light that was designed by the architect Jean Nouvel.

(Image credit: Jessica Klingelfuss)

Inside the museum's greenhouse-esque ground floor

Inside the museum's greenhouse-esque ground floor, which encourages the garden into the space.

(Image credit: Jessica Klingelfuss)

Multiple mini inserts within its pages - this one features an illustrated map

The tome has multiple mini inserts within its pages - this one features an illustrated map by Francois Boisrond of the original Jouy-en-Josas property.

(Image credit: Jessica Klingelfuss)

The Exhibition Un Monde Reel

The model is from the 'Exhibition Un Monde Reel' by Diller + Scofidio, 1999.

(Image credit: Jessica Klingelfuss)

Long Term Parking

'Long Term Parking' by Arman, 1982, parked at the Jouy-en-Josas location.

(Image credit: Jessica Klingelfuss)

Dragon-Explosion on Issey Miyake Pleats Please

'Dragon-Explosion on Issey Miyake Pleats Please (Performance)' by Cai Quo-Qiang, 1998.

(Image credit: Jessica Klingelfuss)

The Fondation's latest colouring book series 'Coloriages Avec

The Fondation's latest colouring book series 'Coloriages Avec' is

(Image credit: Jean Nouvel)

Drawings marry architectural plans and botanical doodles

Inside, his drawings marry architectural plans and botanical doodles

(Image credit: press)

Illustrations of the building are also featured in edition

Jean Nouvel's illustrations of the building are also featured in edition #8 of the 'Coloages Avec' colouring book

(Image credit: Jean Nouvel)

Illustration of his gallery's interior

Another Jean Nouvel illustration of his gallery's interior

(Image credit: Jean Nouvel)

Printed onto tracing paper

Printed onto tracing paper, the book appeals to both the young and old, and is available from the Fondation's gift shop

(Image credit: press)

This smaller book celebrates some of the artwork

Over the years the Fondation has curated some 150 solo or thematic exhibitions, and produced over 180 publications. This smaller book celebrates some of the artwork that has produced for these programmes

(Image credit: press)

This page, from 1998, collages exhibition posters

This page, from 1998, collages exhibition posters for Francesca Woodman and Issey Miyake among others

(Image credit: press)

Another page from 2004 features designs for exhibitions of the work

Another page from 2004 features designs for exhibitions of the work of Marc Newson and Jean Paul Gaultier

(Image credit: press)

Posters from Juergen Teller's

Posters from Juergen Teller's 2006 'Do You Know What I Mean' exhibition, and David Lynch's 2007 'The Air is on Fire'

(Image credit: press)

Artwork from 2011's 'Moebius Transe For Me' and Ron Mueck's 2013 exhibition

More artwork from 2011's 'Moebius Transe For Me' (left) and Ron Mueck's 2013 exhibition (right)

(Image credit: press)

The Fondation will be staging a photography exhibiton showcasing works

From July, the Fondation will be staging a photography exhibiton showcasing works from its archive including: 'Chasseurs et Chamans' by Raymond Depardon, 2002.

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris)

Hairstyles also be exhibited as part of this show

'Hairstyles,' by JD Okhai Ojeikere, 1968-1985, will also be exhibited as part of this show.

(Image credit: Courtesy of the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris)

ADDRESS

Cartier Fondation
261 Boulevard Raspail
75014 Paris, France

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