Stephan Balkenhol: Le Prévu et L'Imprévu

German artist Stephan Balkenhol presents an exhibition at Palais D'Iéna, Paris, France in dialogue with the architecture of the hypostyle hall designed by Auguste Perret. Characterized by its many columns and immense windows with a view of the Eiffel Tower, the space has notably housed new installations by artists Arthur Lescher, Carlos Cruz-Diez or an exhibition devoted to abstract suspended sculptures. 

Fascinated by the city of Le Havre, which was completely rebuilt according to Perret’s plans after the Second World War, Stephan Balkenhol has long been familiar with the work of the architect. In this exhibition, Balkenhol exhibits wooden sculptures in wawa or cedar wood arranged alternately with the large fluted columns of the room. Human figures are placed atop each of the stocks, which become their bases.“I am looking for the contrast between figuration and abstraction in architecture,” the arist explains.