Like a nod, perhaps not entirely fortuitous, to History… Thirty-six years after the famous, and for a long time controversial, columns of the Palais-Royal desired by François Mitterrand, Daniel Buren returns to the realization of 'a state command.
This time, it is not a question of being under the windows of the Ministry of Culture, but at the very heart of power, of the Republic, at the Elysee Palace, by the grace of another President, Emmanuel Macron .
Called “Pavoisé”, the work in the national colors was specially finished to be visible to the general public this weekend during Heritage Days. It was revealed on Monday in the presence of the artist, in front of an array of personalities, including the Minister of Culture, Roselyne Bachelot, Nicolas Sarkozy but also, and almost inevitably, Jack Lang, Minister of Culture in 1985.
As an extension of the Palais festival hall, fully restored in 2019, Daniel Buren has reinvented the entire glass roof of the Winter Garden.
For classic and transparent checks, he has substituted an alternation of blue, white, red and… striped glass, these bands which have been the major constant in his work for 55 years.
A patchwork which, under the rays of the sun, floods the room with colorful geometric patterns, evolving throughout the day, running from the carpet to the walls, reflected by the surrounding mirrors.
"Resolutely patriotic, deeply ephemeral and eminently free"
Rather festive and joyful, the process does not shock at all with the gold of the Republic.
As for references, we can see, like Donatien Grau, writer, philosopher and art critic present this Monday, "a tribute to a great French artist: Claude Monet, who had painted a space decorated with the colors of the French flag, in his masterpiece
La Rue Montorgueil (in 1878)
, when the Republic was consolidated.
"
"Pavoisé" must remain in place until February 2022 We Are Content (s) / Stéphane Aboudaram
“Pavoisé” does not currently have a vocation for sustainability. It is an “exhibition”, as Emmanuel Macron recalled in his speech, scheduled to last until February 2022. However, the President fully assumes what he called a “crazy idea” and the order for this tricolor canopy in which he wanted to see some symbols. Hailing "a resolutely patriotic work, deeply ephemeral and eminently free", he thus estimated that "at this moment when life will resume all its rights, this work is part of a desire not only to make the Elysee a place contemporary creativity, but to ask each and everyone to have this part of insolence, freedom and reinvention of our country. "
As for possible reactions or controversies, the President of the Republic hardly seems to fear them. “There is a daring, on his part, as well as ours. But society has changed in 36 years, the place is not the same… Paradoxically, his real fear is to assume the French flag, to be considered an official artist. I am very proud that we can reappropriate this flag which belongs to all our fellow citizens, that we assume an open and creative patriotism. "