It’s no secret that the health of our planet has long been a hot topic of discussion. Now, more than ever, activists, conservationists, and environmentalists alike are pushing for society to act in helping to preserve what’s left of the natural world. In an effort to bring awareness and inspiration to the public – not to mention, an appreciation for Mother Nature’s beauty – Guerlain House in Paris is presenting Gaïa, what are you becoming? This incredible art exhibition will be on display between October 18th and November 8th of this year, taking place at the historic Guerlain House boutique at 68 Champs-Élysées.
Vik Muniz, Bee, 2016
Gaia, goddess of the Earth in the Greek pantheon, is the focus of this tribute exhibit with around twenty artists participating. While their paintings, sculptures, installations, and other masterpieces are beautiful, they also double as a blatant statement of condemnation towards humankind’s reckless activity on the planet. Seasoned artists and up-and-comers will both be featured with approximately thirty works spanning Guerlain House’s three floors.
Ali Cherri, The Melancholy of Birds A, 2017
“Much more than just a fleeting fad, the need to care for the environment and protect the planet is something that we’re all (finally) starting to grasp,” says Caroline Messensee, curator of the exhibition. “In more recent times, especially with the Land Art movement in the 1960s, artists began to interact with and in the landscape itself, sometimes bringing temporary changes, sometimes permanent ones. We have witnessed a transition from contemporary art that is ‘aware’ of the environment to art that focuses on very real issues like global warming, waste reduction, recycling, biodiversity and more. Often this takes place when the worlds of the arts and environmental science come together, with visual artists adding their voices to the chorus calling for an urgent reconsideration of how we live our lives from day to day, becoming in the process ‘visual ambassadors’ to not just individuals but also institutions and policy-makers.”
Andy Goldsworthy, Beach Cairn, 1987
Gaïa, what are you becoming? fits seamlessly into Guerlain’s commitment to sustainability. “Over the last 12 years and more, the protection of the environment has been central to everything to do,” the company states. “This commitment is driven by a sense of being duty-bound to act and to pass on that which is in our care to future generations. Twelve years into our commitment to sustainability and we are more determined than ever to pursue this goal. By 2020, 100% of our products will be manufactured according to eco-design principles. By 2028, our carbon footprint will be neutral. We commit and act in the name of beauty of our clients, in the name of beauty of our creations, and in the name of beauty of the planet.”
Otobong Nkanga, Alterscapes: Playground (A), 2005-2015
Experience the simultaneous blend of beauty, awareness, and positive action by paying a visit to Guerlain House this Fall. Gaïa, what are you becoming? is sure to be a must-see Paris exhibition.
