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Time Out
20 hours ago
- Time Out
The 24 most beautiful buildings in the world
1. Taj Mahal, India When was it built? 1632-1653 You might think you've made some romantic gestures in your time, but few acts of love can compete with those of Shah Jahan. After the death of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Mughal Emperor commissioned the building of an appropriate mausoleum for her, and what it resulted in, 22 years later, was the Taj Mahal. It's thought the building's beauty was inspired by hers, and English poet Sir Edwin Arnold reportedly said that the palace was 'not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passion of an emperor's love wrought in living stones.' 2. Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland When was it built? 1945-1986 Reykjavik's Hallgrimskirkja might look like a rocket, but it is in fact a striking Evangelical-Lutheran church, and the largest place of worship in Iceland. Its façade nods to both modernist and expressionist architectural styles, but Guðjón Samúelsson, the building's lead designer, was inspired by the country's robust landscape. The sloping sides of Hallgrímskirkja's face resemble cooled lava, and its white concrete finishing enables it to blend with the mountainous backdrop. 3. The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt When was it built? 2550-2490 BC We couldn't curate a credible list of the world's most beautiful buildings without including some of the oldest, most stoic structures of all. Built (presumably) using a system of rams, sledges, ropes, leavers and rollers, the Pyramids of Giza were tombs for the pharaohs of Egypt's Old Kingdom to prepare them for life as gods after their death, and given construction began on the Great Pyramid more than four millennia ago, they've certainly stood the test of time. 4. Fallingwater, USA When was it built? 1936-1939 Surrounding ourselves even with just little hints of nature is good for our wellbeing, but Fallingwater, an extraordinarily-designed 1930s house, takes that to a whole 'nother level. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed the building to be a weekend home for the Kaufman family. Featuring cantilevered terraces that protrude into the lush greenery, Fallingwater intertwines with the stunning surroundings of Bear Run Nature Reserve, cleverly built over a babbling waterfall (hence the name). The interior, built around a fireplace, features rocks cutting in from the outside. The entirety of the house is enveloped in the constant sound of ever-falling water. 5. Ad-Dayr in Petra, Jordan When was it built? First century AD Also known as the 'Rose City' because of the rose-red hue of the surrounding sandstone, Petra's outstanding beauty and unique architecture (buildings are half-built and half-carved into the rock face, with an innovative water management system enabling a population to settle) have earned it a worthy place as one of the eight wonders of the world. Ad-Dayr, the Monastery, is one of the ancient city's most-visited and most famous monuments. At 48 metres high, it's Petra's tallest stone façade. 6. Fondation Louis Vuitton, France When was it built? 2007- 2014 You might not think it at first glance, but Frank Gehry's 2014 masterpiece is inspired by classic, late nineteenth-century greenhouses – the kind that appear elsewhere on this list. The building's shape resembles a futuristic-looking ship ornamented with twelve glass sails – a structure Gehry apparently imagined as a 'magnificent vessel that symbolizes France's cultural vocation'. The sails are interspersed with white blocks known as 'icebergs' and its fragmented appearance is a nod to Gehry's signature deconstructivist architectural style. 7. Trinity College Library, Ireland When was it built? 1712-1732 Ireland 's largest library is so much more than a massive collection of books (though there are around 6 million printed volumes shelved here). Its 65-metre main chamber, called the Long Room, is an imposing, handsome space which has gradually been added to throughout the decades to house more and more books. It started as a single-story, plaster-ceilinged space and has since been built up to feature barrel-vaulted ceilings and an upper gallery, resulting in this famously moody, gothic reading room. 8. Great Mosque of Djenne, Mali When was it built? Thirteenth century, rebuilt in 1907 If you've never seen a mud-brick building before, start off strong with this majestic mosque, which is the largest example of this kind of architecture on the planet (and a UNESCO World Heritage Site). It's made of sun-baked earthen bricks which have been coated in sand, earth-based mortar and a coat of plaster. However, Mali's climate isn't kind to this kind of material, so every year the Crépissage de la Grand Mosquée takes place, an annual event where the local community come together to replaster the building – typically the women gather river water and the men gather clay and make plaster. 9. Nasir Ol Molk Mosque, Iran When was it built? 1876-1888 If you're looking for beauty in the minute details, seek out a mosque. Shiraz's Nasir Ol Molk Mosque, appropriately nicknamed the 'Pink Mosque', is a stellar example. Its crowning jewel is the prayer room, which is flooded with kaleidoscopic colour at sunrise, dreamily illuminating the walls' many intricate mosaics. But the mosque's exterior is just as impressive, with beautifully decorated pastel-hued tiles embellishing the entire building. 10. The Twist, Norway When was it built? 2016-2019 Ever been to an art gallery that doubles as a bridge? Well, head to Kistefos Sculpture Park in Norway, and you can. This stunning feat of infrastructure and architecture is appropriately named The Twist, and consists of a beam that rotates 90 degrees to connect the banks of the Ranselva River. Inside, the innovative use of light creates three different galleries: visitors are greeted by floor-to-ceiling glass on the north side, which offers panoramic views; a sculptural section with a slice of ceiling light in the middle; and a tall, moody space on the south side. 11. Sagrada Famila, Spain When was it built? 1882-today (due to be completed in 2026) They say good things take time, and more than 140 years after construction began, the work on Antoni Gaudí's masterpiece is nearly (like really nearly) done. The Sagrada Familia is scheduled to be finally complete by spring 2026, which would mark 100 years since its architect's passing, and it looks like all the waiting will be worth it. From the building's strange, Gothic-slash-Art Nouveau stylings to the intensely vibrant stained glass windows, the tree-like columns to the 'magic square', it's a unique melange of texture, colour, light and detail. 12. Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Bangladesh When was it built? 1961-1982 Bangladesh's National Parliament House isn't beautiful in the dainty, romantic, classical sense, but you can't deny its impact. It was designed by world-famous architect Louis Kahn, originally to house the governmental quarters of East Pakistan until Bangladesh gained independence in 1971 while the building was still being constructed. Now, it stands as a symbol of democracy. A trademark of Kahn's designs is the manipulation of light – he believed natural light could transform a buildings' interior in a way no material means could – which is why the modernist façade features vast geometric holes. 13. Pantheon, Italy When was it built? 118-128 AD Whether you ponder the Roman Empire occasionally or daily, the Pantheon, which translates from Greek to mean 'honour all gods', stands as a monumental example of the ancient realm's engineering and design prowess. Its unreinforced concrete dome remains the largest of its kind on the planet, on top of being perfectly proportioned – the 43.3 metre diameter is the exact same distance as from the ceiling to the floor. Oh, and the hole in its summit – the 'oculus' or 'eye of the Pantheon' – casts a striking lighting effect on April 21 every year, when the midday sun hits a metal grill above the doorway and completely illuminates the courtyard outside. Stunning, eh? 14. Palmenhaus at Schonbrunn Palace, Austria When was it built? 1880-1882 A whole load of steel and glass might not sound like a particularly elegant mix of materials, but in Vienna, that combo has resulted in this exquisite greenhouse which dates back to the nineteenth century. Palmenhaus sits in Schonbrunn Palace's Dutch Botanical Gardens, and, despite its dainty-looking structure, it houses three different climates and 4,500 different plants. The central pavilion has a Mediterranean climate, the north side caters to cold-weather species and the southern one is tropical, and they're all connected by tunnels. 15. Bát Tràng Ceramic Community House, Vietnam When was it built? 2021 Bát Tràng, an ancient village nestled in the Gia Lâm district of Hanoi, has always been known for its pottery – the name literally translates to bowl workshop, after all. However, despite the village's age (it's been around since the eleventh century), one of its newest buildings is one of its most striking – the Bát Tràng Ceramic Community House. Insight from villagers, local artisans and pottery experts informed the design of this place, a bold, tiered structure which references the shape of potters' wheels. 16. Museum at Eldridge Street, USA When was it built? 1887 This building isn't only beautiful thanks to its Moorish, Gothic and Romanesque features, its striking windows and its grand façade, but also because of all its history. Originally built in 1887, when the US was experiencing a window of mass immigration and New York 's Lower East Side became the most densely populated Jewish community in the world, Eldridge Street Synagogue was the first in America to be purpose-built by eastern European immigrants. It was a proud display of their newly-found religious freedom, and though the population using it gradually declined, a generous restoration project, under which it became Museum at Eldridge Street, has restored it to its former magnificence. 17. Santuario de Las Lajas, Colombia When was it built? 1916-1949 Plenty of buildings come about out of necessity, but others are built in order to honour or remember, and it's the latter that led to the creation of this imposing Colombian Basilica. Perched on a 40-metre-high bridge over the Guáitara River, the site has been a pilgrimage destination since the eighteenth century, when it's thought a woman and her daughter witnessed an apparition of the Virgin Mary. Between 1916 and 1949, flying buttresses, pointy arches and ribbed vaults were constructed to replace the previous smaller shrine, giving the site a refreshed neo-gothic grandeur. 18. Museum of Old and New Art, Australia When was it built? 2011 If you want a building that's not just going to welcome you, but will actually take you on a journey, look no further than MONA. It's nestled into Triassic-period sandstone cliffs, around a 40 minute ferry ride from Hobart along Australia 's Derwent River, and its design is peculiar, but pretty darn cool. The whole idea was to not detract from existing properties in the area, so lots of the museum's exhibition spaces are dimly-lit, subterranean rooms, and there's also an art conservation area and theatre on site. Pharos is the newest part of the building, which was opened back in 2017, and it's accessible via two different tunnels. 19. Maggie's Centre, St James's Hospital, UK When was it built? 2020 Hospitals tend to be uncomfortable places characterised by too-bright strip lighting and unnervingly squeaky surfaces, but not at this Maggie's Centre. The charity has striven to build personal environments to support cancer sufferers and their families, and this space is comforting and stunning. Enormous, mushroom-shaped forms grow from the floors to form the tiered roofs, and the stems are deep enough to contain loos and lifts. The space is decorated with mostly natural materials – think cork-topped tables, resin floors and cascading potted plants. 20. Baháʼí Temple of South America, Chile When was it built? 2007-2016 Forget what you know about temples – this stunning place of worship in Chile is a striking deviation from tradition. The Baháʼí Community is a religion based on unity among all people, and this temple, with its nine gleaming glass veils, frames an airy, accessible place for worship that can accommodate 600 individuals. From inside, the dome's peak lets in light that's captured between the glass and translucent Portuguese marble on the building's interior. At sunset, the light fades from white to silver to ochre to purple. 21. Futuna Chapel, New Zealand When was it built? 1959-1961 Hidden away in the Wellington suburb of Karori is what is widely considered by the architecture community to be the most significant of New Zealand 's twentieth-century buildings. Futuna Chapel is a beautiful little space, originally commissioned by the Society of Mary, a Catholic religious group. Inside, you'll find marvellous displays of light over the floor and walls through the pretty stained-glass windows, wood, layers, a load of texture and plenty of sharp angles. 22. Komera Leadership Centre, Rwanda When was it built? 2022 This community and education hub near Lake Ihema in eastern Rwanda is a stunning recent build that thoughtfully incorporates its environment (known as vernacular architecture). Its name means 'to stand strong, and to have courage', and there are woven eucalyptus screens and brick patterns throughout the building, which are inspired by local 'Imigongo' artwork – a style thought to have originated in Rwanda several centuries ago. 23. National Holocaust Monument, Canada When was it built? 2017 It's our collective duty to learn from the past, and commemorating dark chapters in our history with such stark monuments is one way to encourage that vital introspection. Technically entitled 'Landscape of Loss, Memory and Survival', the details in Canada 's National Holocaust Monument have been thoughtfully designed to ensure it lives up to its name. The building's structure centres around six triangular volumes that form the Star of David, and it's organised around two planes – one ascends, pointing to the future, and the other descends into a space which features murals and photographs of the Holocaust to ensure it's not forgotten. 24. Enryaku-ji, Japan When was it built? 788 Kyoto has its fair share of temples, but Enryaku-ji is one of its prettiest. It's perched on top of Mount Hieizan in Kyoto's eastern mountain range, and the wider complex at one time comprised nearly 3,000 subtemples. It was founded by Saicho, a monk who introduced Tendai Buddhism to the region way back in 778, but after an attack by Japanese daimyō Oda Nobunaga in 1571 (who was trying to unite Japan), most of the original buildings were destroyed. Now, the majority of the ones left date from the Endo period, and they're clustered in three main areas: Todo; Saito and Tokawa.
USA Today
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Boston University responds to 'Call Her Daddy' host Alex Cooper's harassment claims
Boston University responds to 'Call Her Daddy' host Alex Cooper's harassment claims Show Caption Hide Caption Pharrell, Alex Cooper tell us what they would win a gold medal for in life The 'Prelude To The Olympics' event at Fondation Louis Vuitton featured a star-studded red carpet with the likes of LeBron James and more. Boston University is breaking its silence after famed podcaster Alex Cooper alleged sexual harassment at the hands of her soccer coach while she was a student there. The "Call Her Daddy" host said in a new documentary that she was harassed by head soccer coach Nancy Feldman while playing for the university team in 2014. Feldman was intrusive about her sex life, Cooper alleged, and when she reported it to the university, nothing was done. "Boston University has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment. We have a robust system of resources, support and staff dedicated to student wellbeing and a thorough reporting process through our Equal Opportunity Office," the college wrote in a statement to People Thursday, June 12. 'Call Her Daddy' host Alex Cooper recalls 'psychotic game' of sexual harassment "We encourage members of our community to report any concerns, and we remain committed to fostering a safe and secure campus environment for all," the statement concluded. Adding to the claims she made in the docuseries, "Call Her Alex," Cooper took to Instagram June 12, blasting both Feldman and the university administration for a culture of complicity. "Nancy Feldman was someone I trusted. Someone I believed in. Someone who was supposed to help me grow. Someone who was supposed to protect me. But instead she made my life a living hell and abused her power over me," Cooper wrote. "She stripped me of my identity and took away what I had worked my entire life for because she didn't control herself. This defined my life for a decade and impacted her life 0%," she continued. "I reported the abuse to the athletic director, Drew Marrochello, and I was turned away and ignored. There was no accountability, no investigation, and no justice. "So when I found out the harassment and abuse was STILL happening on that campus today - 10 years later by Nancy Feldman's successor and my former assistant coach, I knew I needed to share my story," Cooper added. "When I was 18 years old, dismissed and ignored by Boston University, I prayed and wished someone with a voice would have held my hand and helped me through the darkest time in my life. Daddy Gang, I got you. Stay tuned." Boston University has not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment. Feldman could not be reached, and the documentary, directed by Ry Russo-Young, does not include a statement from the university or its former coach. No charges were ever filed. (Feldman retired from BU in 2022.) Cooper's post comes on the heels of a round of revelations that shocked fans. For someone whose very brand is that nothing is off limits, the new docuseries, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, offered a rare glimpse at the parts she keeps private – including her story of abuse. In "Call Her Alex," the new media darling told interviewers that during her sophomore year, she noticed Feldman "really starting to fixate on me, way more than any other teammate of mine. And it was confusing." "It was all based in her wanting to know who I was dating, her making comments about my body and her always wanting to be alone with me," she added, "It was this psychotic game of, 'You want to play? Tell me about your sex life,'… 'I have to drive you to your night class. Get in the car with me alone.'" Contributing: Erin Jensen
Los Angeles Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Louis Vuitton bets big on Rodeo Drive with new Frank Gehry-designed store
Louis Vuitton is gearing up to go over the top again in Beverly Hills. With plans for an ultra-opulent hotel on Rodeo Drive stymied by voters two years ago, the Paris fashion house's owners are back with a proposal for a theatrical flagship store designed by architect Frank Gehry that would anchor the north end of the famous retail corridor. Luxury goods stores on Rodeo Drive are growing larger as top-shelf retailers increasingly up the ante to dazzle shoppers, and the vision from Louis Vuitton owner LVMH is one of the biggest stores yet with restaurants, rooftop gardens and exhibition space. Set to open in 2029 pending city approval, the store will stretch through the block from Rodeo Drive to Beverly Drive along South Santa Monica Boulevard. It will be one continuous structure connected across an alley by two pedestrian bridges and a tunnel. Louis Vuitton said its new store will contain 45,000 square feet on the retail side fronting on Rodeo Drive and an additional 55,000 square feet on the hospitality-focused side of the building off Beverly Drive. 'The new location will take visitors into a full Louis Vuitton lifestyle experience showcasing its diverse universes of products and one-of-a-kind client experiences,' the company said in a statement. The retail entrance will be on Rodeo Drive, with three floors dedicated to product categories such as women's and men's collections, travel, watches and Jewelry, beauty and fragrance. A rooftop level will have private spaces for clients and a garden. Visitors entering from Beverly Boulevard will find a cafe and exhibition lobby on the ground floor, two more floors of exhibition space and a rooftop with a restaurant and open-air terrace. Louis Vuitton representatives declined to offer more details about the exhibitions or the building, but the brand perhaps best known for its signature monogrammed handbags and luggage also has made a reputation promoting art and culture. In 2014 it opened the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris in a building designed by Gehry. The Fondation has art exhibits, concerts, dance performances and organized family activities such as art classes for children. Gehry has also also collaborated with Louis Vuitton on a collection of handbags reflecting his architectural style, which is known for flowing, curvilinear sculptural forms. In downtown Los Angeles, Gehry designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Grand L.A. mixed-use complex across the street and the nearby Colburn School performing arts center under construction. The interior of Luis Vuitton's Beverly Hills flagship is being designed by another well-known architect, Peter Marino, who designed the existing Louis Vuitton store on Rodeo Drive and the ill-fated Cheval Blanc Beverly Hills hotel intended for the Rodeo Drive site now selected for Louis Vuitton's new flagship. New York-based Marino was described by Architectural Digest as 'a leading architect for the carriage trade, and the architect for fashion brands.' Marino once said the Chevel Blanc hotel, which was approved by the city before being vetoed by voters, would improve the pedestrian experience on the northern edge of Rodeo Drive's famed shopping district, where 'people get to the end, shrug their shoulders and walk back.' The parcels intended for the hotel and now Louis Vuitton are owned by LVMH and were formerly occupied by Brooks Bros. and the Paley Center for Media. The existing unoccupied structures will be razed to make way for the new store. Merchants on the famous three-block stretch of Rodeo Drive constantly strive to find new ways to call attention to themselves and polish their brand's image, said real estate broker Jay Luchs of Newmark Pacific, who works on sales and leases of high-end retail properties. 'It's competitive among brands to always be the best they can be, and they're not sitting on spaces keeping them stale,' he said. 'They're all always reinventing themselves.' The expensive changes to their stores are 'very obvious,' Luchs said. 'It's almost like an art. The street has different top designers who have made these stores spectacular one after the other.' Even though retail rents on Rodeo Drive are some of the highest in the country, stores are also getting bigger, the property broker said. Fifteen years ago, stores on the street were typically 25 feet wide, he said, then gradually many became 50 feet wide, he said. 'Now you're seeing stores 100 feet wide' that may have two different landlords. A 50-foot lot is 'very big,' Luchs said, and can hold a store with 5,000 square feet on each level and may go three stories tall for a total of 15,000 square feet in the store. The fashion house is also growing in New York, where its flagship store is being replaced with a building that will nearly double its footprint on 57th Street at 5th Avenue, the Architects Newspaper said. Construction has been concealed with a facade that looks like a giant stack of distinctive Louis Vuitton trunks.
Time Out
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
These are the best exhibitions to see in Paris right now
News Your ultimate guide to the must-see art shows and exhibitions in Time Out's recently-crowned best city for culture Craving a proper dose of art? No matter the season, Paris serves up a banquet of exhibitions so rich and varied it can be hard to know where to tuck in. But thankfully, you've got us on hand to help. We've roamed the city to handpick the crème de la crème of exhibitions on display right now – whether you're into painting, photography, contemporary art, sculpture, or design, there's something on this list for you. Here are the very best exhibitions on in Paris right now. Dans le Flou – Another Vision of Art from 1945 to Today Following their deep dive into the link between Impressionism and abstraction, the Orangerie is now exploring what happens when things get a little... blurry. Inspired by Monet's late masterpieces, the show journeys from the 1940s to today, demonstrating how artists have embraced visual ambiguity, abstraction, and indistinct forms to create emotion and tension. The exhibition opens with a quote from Grégoire Bouillier's novel The Orangerie Syndrome: 'In truth, we see nothing. Nothing precise. Nothing definite. One must constantly readjust one's sight.' And that's exactly what this show makes you do – look again, and again. Where? Musée de l'Orangerie When? Until August 18 2025 Matisse et Marguerite – A Father's Gaze We all know Matisse as a heavyweight of twentieth-century art, but how well do we know Marguerite? More than just a muse, she was an essential emotional and artistic presence in his life – and this beautifully curated exhibition finally gives her the spotlight. With over 100 works, including portraits, sketches, sculptures, and intimate archival materials, this show paints a vivid portrait of a deep and complex father-daughter bond. It's about love, creativity, and the quiet power of presence. Where? Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris When? Until August 24 2025 David Hockney 25 Let's be honest: David Hockney doesn't need much of an introduction, but even for superfans of this British icon, this exhibition is quite something. Not only is it the largest Hockney retrospective to date, with over 400 works spread across the entire Fondation Louis Vuitton, but the man himself was deeply involved in every aspect of its curation, from theme to layout. The epic, career-spanning exhibition journeys all the way from the 1960s to Hockney's latest digital experiments, so if you only go to one show this spring, make it this one. It's bold, brilliant, and very, very Hockney. Where? Fondation Louis Vuitton When? Until August 31 2025 The Paris of Agnès Varda You might know Agnès Varda as a Nouvelle Vague pioneer, filmmaker, feminist icon, and general queen of cool. But before the camera rolled, she was behind another kind of lens – as a professional photographer, trained and certified, with a practice that started even before her first films. This exhibition explores the Paris captured by Varda's camera from the 1950s onward: her neighbours, her streets, her studio. It's a tender and powerful tribute to a city she loved. Where? When? Until August 24 2025 The Kiss by the Hôtel de Ville is a career-defining image, but Robert Doisneau was so much more than one iconic snap, and that's exactly what this rich, personal exhibition proves. Curated in part by his daughters Francine Deroudille and Annette Doisneau, the show reveals a man driven not just by aesthetics, but by empathy. It draws from a staggering archive of over 450,000 negatives, not just showing us Doisneau's images but sharing the way he saw people. Expect warmth, wit, and moments of unfiltered humanity. Where? Musée Maillol When? Until October 12 2025 Azzedine Alaïa, Thierry Mugler Before designer collabs were all over Instagram, they were rare, risky, and revolutionary. Case in point: Azzedine Alaïa quietly created pieces for Thierry Mugler in the late 1970s, and this show traces their creative crossover, starting with the unforgettable tuxedo designs from Mugler's 1979-80 collection. It's a love letter to craftsmanship, mentorship, and the kind of fashion storytelling that shaped an era. Tucked inside the Fondation Alaïa, this show is a must for couture lovers and fashion nerds alike. Where? Fondation Azzedine Alaïa When? Until June 29 2025 WAX Sure, wax fabrics are striking and vibrant — but they're also deeply political. This thoughtful, two-level exhibition dives into the colonial, cultural, and economic history behind one of Africa's most iconic textiles. All part of the museum's 'Migrations' season, WAX uncovers how this cloth became a symbol of identity and resistance across continents, featuring contemporary works, fashion, and archival material. It's a reminder that behind every pattern is a story worth telling. When? Until September 7 2025 Along the gold thread – Dressing from the Orient to the Rising Sun Forget trendy, bulky chains – gold has been a fashion staple since the dawn of civilisation, and this dazzling exhibition explores humanity's obsession with golden garments, all the way from ancient Mesopotamia to Japan's Edo period. Over-the-top? Absolutely. But it's also deeply researched and incredibly, well, rich. Expect robes woven with gold threads, religious vestments, ceremonial wear, and pieces that truly shimmer with spiritual – and literal – weight. Where? Musée du Quai Branly When? Until July 6 2025 Expo Disco: I'm Coming Out The idea? Disco meets installation art. The execution? A bit hazy, but it's fun. Visitors are welcomed by a molecule of ether shaped like a disco ball, courtesy of Jeanne Susplugas, and while the conceptual threat of the exhibition is a little hard to follow, there's glitter, music, and the undeniably dazzling energy of disco liberation. Where? La Villette When? Until August 17 2025 Fashion takes the spotlight in the Louvre's first-ever major clothing exhibition. Covering nearly 9,000 square meters, Louvre Couture places over 100 looks from 45 designers (think Chanel, Gaultier, Marine Serre) in dialogue with the museum's most historic pieces. The result? Sometimes breathtaking, sometimes baffling. But it's an ambitious swing – and one that puts fashion back in its rightful place: at the heart of art history.
Forbes
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
David Hockney In Paris: The Largest, Most Joyful Exhibit Worth The Trip
David Hockney, Untitled, 22 July 2005. Oil on canvas. 'David Hockney 25,' the just-opened exhibit at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, is the largest to date of the British artist featuring more than 400 works, including some never seen before. A once-in-a-lifetime experience that certainly merits the trip to Paris and already numbered among the blockbuster exhibitions of the year, it is also a celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Fondation Louis Vuitton and will be open until August 31. Opened at its entrance by an appropriately hopeful slogan in pink neon in these times of turmoil and uncertainty — 'Do remember they can't cancel spring' — the Hockney exhibition is an experience that connects visitors with the world through an array of joyful, colorful, inspiring paintings, i-pad drawings and sometimes spectacular videos. A Year in Normandy, chair, David Hockney, 2020 'Inside and outside the soaring spaces of the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris, everything is in bloom, a joyful vision and a record of a life in art lived with passionate curiosity, attention to the human condition and reverence for the natural world,' the New York Times enthuses in a review. It's the most extensive retrospective ever dedicated to the 87-year-old painter, featuring works from 1955 to 2025 and that, despite its sheer amount, as Le Monde's critic writes that 'you find yourself thinking it's not enough.' The Guardian's critic found the the show 'so moving, I had tears in my eyes.' David Hockney, Play Within a Play Within a Play and Me with a Cigarette, 2025. Acrylic on canvas with collage. This exceptional exhibition curated by Norman Rosenthal, former director of the Royal Academy in London, has been organized according to the artist's choices and instructions, and in addition to a major collection from his studio and his foundation assembles loans from international, institutional, and private collections. It includes works created using a wide, delightful and often astonishing variety of techniques — oil and acrylic paintings, ink, pencil, and charcoal drawings — as well as digital works across photographic, computer, iPhone, and iPad devices — and immersive photo and video installations. Apple Tree 2019. Acrylic on canvas. David Hockney, 27th March 2020 'He himself chose, after presenting some of his legendary early work, to open the exhibition with the last 25 years' production, thus offering an immersion in his world, spanning seven decades of creation,' the Louis Vuitton museum explains. 'He wanted to personally follow the design of each sequence and each room.' As described by Le Figaro: 'This painter, so English down to his bold pate and colorful attire, navigates with a touch of impatience in his 'electric chair,' gazing longingly at the hanging of this dazzling exhibition. His two nurses bring him his coke, but he lights his beloved cigarettes alone, with the same dandyish gesture he's always had. Vitality lurks like a volcano not yet extinguished.' At the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris' Bois de Boulogne, the explosion of colorful, relatable, joyful and immersive works illuminate the 12 rooms dedicated to the show, communicating the artist's joie de vivre and bringing smiles of delight - and sometimes even gasps - to observers. It's the satisfaction of remembering that nature offers infinite inspiration, if one simply looks. David Hockney: A room of portraits in many different styles, welcomes visitors. David Hockney, The Arrival of Spring, Normandy, 2020 "David Hockney 25" shows the constant renewal of the artist's subjects and modes of expression and his exceptional ability to reinvent his art. Initially a draftsman, then a master of all academic techniques, he is today a champion of new technologies. Born in 1937 in Bradford, an industrial town in northern England, Hockney started painting at a young age, his creative universe spanning seven decades that make him one of the most influential artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. As a preamble, the exhibit starts with emblematic works such as the Portrait of An Artist (Pool with Two Figures), 1972, and his series of double and single portraits. Then, nature assumes an increasingly important place in Hockney's work from the 1980s to the 1990s before his return to Europe. The core of the exhibition concentrates on the past 25 years, spent mainly in Yorkshire, Normandy and London, a celebration of the landscape, the spectacular explosion of spring and the changing seasons to culminate with the winter landscape Bigger Trees near Water or/ou Peinture sur le Motif pour le Nouvel Age Post-Photographique, 2007, loaned by London's Tate Museum. David Hockney, Bigger Trees near Warter, 2007.' Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures), 1972. Acrylic on canvas. During the same period, David Hockney painted friends and relatives in acrylic or on iPad while also working on self-portraits. The exhibition features some 60 portraits shown alongside his 'portraits of flowers.' Created on a digital tablet but displayed in traditional frames, the works have an intriguing effect. This is evident in Looking at the Flowers (Framed), 2022, where they are shown together on the wall. David Hockney, 25th June 2022, Looking at the Flowers. Photographic drawing printed on paper Seeing them in that painting and then recognizing them hung around the room radiates joy to visitors of all ages. Hockney is a reliable 'porteur de bonheur ' with his blossoming trees, multicolored flowers and vibrant landscapes. 'You can learn a lot in this exhibition – not just about photography and the human eye but art history and perspective' writes the Guardian's reviewer. 'He show us how beautiful the world is in spite of those who try so hard to ruin it.' David Hockney, 24th February 2021, Red, Yellow and Purple Flowers on a Blue Tablecloth. iPad painting printed on paper, mounted on aluminium David Hockney, 30 Sunflowers, 1996. Oil on canvas. 'Day after day, season after season, the artist captures the light variations,' the curators explain. 'A series of acrylic paintings is on display featuring a highly singular treatment of the sky, animated by vibrant touches, that subtly evoke the work of Van Gogh.' The final room on the top floor feels more emotional in its joyful cornucopia of color. It unveils David Hockney's most recent works, painted in London, where he has lived since July, 2023. These enigmatic paintings are inspired by Edvard Munch and William Blake: After Munch: Less is Known than People Think, 2023, and After Blake: Less is Known than People Think, 2024, in which astronomy, history and geography cross paths with spirituality, according to the artist. Here, also, appears 'Play Within a Play Within a Play and Me With a Cigarette' (2025) , his latest self-portrait in his London garden painting the same image we see, as the daffodils around him announce spring. David Hockney: After Blake: Less is Known than People Think, 2024 Giverny by DH, 2023. Acrylic on Canvas. Nearing the end, new works are placed that engage the spectator in a video at the artist's studio, transformed into a dance hall where musicians and dancers are regularly invited to perform. Passionate about opera, Hockney also reinterprets the set designs he has been creating since the 1970s in a spectacular new multimedia, polyphonic creation where visitors are immersed in a musical and visual piece. David Hockney 25 is at Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris, until August 31. Tickets are available here.
