At the top of our Paris "to do" list was visiting the Fondation Louis Vuitton (opened in October 2014) and seeing paintings and sculptures from the historic collection of wealthy industrialist Sergei Shchukin, who founded the world's first museum of modern art at the turn of the 20th century in his Moscow palace. Unfortunately, Lenin and later Stalin considered the collection - featuring works by Monet, Matisse, Cezanne, Gauguin, Degas and Picasso - "degenerate" art.
Doug and I enjoyed an afternoon tour of architect Frank Gehry's iconic building and seeing the exhibition of 130 major works from the "lost" modern art masterpieces once owned by Shchukin.
Gehry, who was born in Toronto, designed the nautically inspired Fondation Louis Vuitton arts center in the Bois de Boulogne park in western Paris. The 126,000-square foot building consists of 12 curved glass sails with 3,600 panes, which Daniel Buren "colored" with filters set out in a staggered pattern and punctuated with alternating white and clear glass stripes.
We decided to start our visit with lunch at Le Frank, which is directly across from the glassed-in lobby entrance.
Gehry also designed the fish-shaped lighting in the restaurant.
Lunch was delicious- the perfect way to start our visit to this unique building and art exhibition.
The main entrance to the 11 galleries, which are described as "art playgrounds."
Portrait of Sergeir Shchukin, now described as "the visionary" Russian collector of French modern art.
The 2.5-story building is network of beams and trusses.
The top floor gives visitors the opportunity to have a great view of the Paris skyline and also stop by one of the rooftop terraces, sheltered by the sails.
It was also interesting to see concept displays.
(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)
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