Instagrammable and creative spot alert. Just outside Paris lies one of the world’s most important collections of optical and kinetic art: the Fondation Cherqui. A veritable temple to kinetic art, it brings together over 5,000 optical works from this little-known artistic movement. In an absolutely unusual setting (the former laboratories of Jean Cherqui, pharmacologist, initiator of generic drugs in the 80s and collector), visitors are invited to discover this extraordinary universe.
Hors Limites” project
This summer, the Foundation will be the setting for a brand-new exhibition. “Hors Limites” will feature monumental works by international artists spread over more than 350 m2 of wall space. Renowned street-artists will thus be highlighted. Among the selected artists: L’Atlas, Astro and other big names.
A dive into art at the Cherqui Foundation
Kinetic art uses the aesthetics of movement (using space, light, wind, etc.) to give a work a changing character through optical effects. The kinetic or optical work thus takes on its full meaning, offering the viewer a new perspective. Created by Naum Gabo and his brother Antoine Pevsner, the first work exhibited under the title of “kinetic sculpture” was an animated steel rod. Over the years, kinetic art has been sharpened by increasingly advanced technologies. Today, the results are simply mind-blowing!
Giant mural by Jesús Soto, pool of Peruvian balloons, Ferrari repainted by José Franco, giant globe created by artist Ben… More than 5,000 pieces of optical and kinetic art from the 50s and 70s, as well as more contemporary works, are on display at the Cherqui Private Foundation. In this maze of works, each more fascinating than the last, get ready to feast your eyes!
A highly Instagrammable and creative venue
In the Paris region, the Fondation Cherqui invites you to discover original works that break with traditional art codes by disrupting spatial and temporal orientation. Whether you’re already familiar with kinetic and optical art, or are just discovering this artistic movement, this temple to unusual art promises to surprise you.
For an even more complete experience, the Cherqui Foundation also offers children an introduction to this art form. Every Wednesday and Sunday, they are invited to move from theory to practice in playful art workshops. After an introduction to the techniques of yesterday and today, in a room as unusual as the rest of the exhibition, visitors can let their creativity flow. Draw, paint, sculpt, collage, model, mime, play… It’s THE perfect plan for the whole family.
