Tuesday 7 July 2015

La controverse

Dirty Corner château de Versailles Kapoor
The title of this post says it all: controversy is the word in town about 'Dirty Corner', one of Anish Kapoor's summer exhibits in the palace gardens, on the lawn connecting the palace to the Grand Canal. Also dubbed 'the queen's vagina', it has recently been vandalised. Vigils have been held outside the palace to demand its removal. VDP will remain neutral here, since the purpose of this blog is not to discuss what is or isn't art, but merely to show the city!

Le titre de ce billet résume la situation au sujet de "Dirty Corner", l'une des œuvres d'Anish Kapoor exposées dans les jardins du château en cet été 2015. Récemment appelée "le vagin de la reine", l'installation a été vandalisée et des veillées ont eu lieu pour demander son retrait. VDP restera neutre ici, puisque l'objet de ce blog n'est pas de débattre de ce qui est ou n'est pas de l'art mais juste de montrer la ville au quotidien.
Dirty Corner château de Versailles Kapoor
Dirty Corner château de Versailles Kapoor

30 comments:

William Kendall said...

It does seem very out of place.

Unknown said...

I like the top picture, not so sure about the artwork and don't know what to say about the Queens bits....

RedPat said...

I think you are smart to remain neutral in this case, Ciel! I'm not sure about this piece at all.

Randy said...

It like a big potato chip!

Jack said...

Yikes! I will stay out of it, too. I am surprised that this artwork was chosen to display. Someone goofed.

Bob Crowe said...

I like art that challenges the viewer, even gets in your face. It doesn't have to be pretty. I'd love to see this for myself.

Glennis said...

amazing unusual but not very appealing.

Unknown said...

How funny . I love it. What is shocking about a vagina ? Maybe people.have 'dirty thoughts' , they seem not to be open minded in asking the removal. And art is art , no discussion about that.

Halcyon said...

Interesting that the city would choose this work to display at the height of the tourist season. But I think art does its job when it gets people talking!

VP said...

No controversy here: that's crap and it is in an absolutely wrong place. The world-famous 'artist' is good to sell his 'wares': the fools are those who allow this, and often pay for it with public money.

cieldequimper said...

@ VP: while there is slightly less information about this year's exhibition, usually the palace's exhibitions are financed by sponsors.

Dina said...

Wait, so what did the vandals do? I'm having trouble distinguishing the vandalism from the "art."

Dave said...

It certainly provides a contrast in styles and if controversy and publicity was the artists aim then its achieved that too.

Anonymous said...

I think art can be controversial regardless of where or what it is!

Unknown said...

Art has many faces , it's not only Michelangelo . Your opinion is only yours.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Well it's different that's for sure :) Still, it's only temporary oui?

Thérèse said...

Un bon moyen de faire venir les gens pour voir l’exposition et de faire des gros sous, je me demande ce qui va suivre l’année prochaine comme exposition (faire parler de soi n’est pas si facile) mais ce n’est pas moi qui me déplacerai…

Sharon said...

It's an interesting installation. I'm wondering if the biggest controversy is about where it is placed not necessarily about the piece itself. Placed somewhere else, it might not draw so much attention but in front of that famous palace it provokes a lot of emotion.

Wayne said...

Well, it's different. I think the name is pretty funny. Does it deserve to be removed? I don't think so, nor do I think it deserve to be vandalized.

Tanya Breese said...

i don't like it there...it looks really out of place and i am laughing at the name :D

Lowell said...

Well, I've go dog in this fight, so I'll just say it: It's ugly as hell and should be thrown out of there for it makes Versailles look ugly!

Now, I'm going to get a cold beer!

Loree said...

I don't think I like it - at least, not in Versailles.

LuiZ FernandoS said...

I like this huge trumpet. And it realy makes noise!

Tammie Lee said...

gotta love that title ;-)
fun to see what gets people up in a roar
if only people would roar over starving people, or wars, or or or!
thanks for sharing.

orvokki said...

Very special art there.

Unknown said...

Bravo Tammie Lee.

LOLfromPasa said...

I had to look twice to be sure what exactly I was seeing. Personally, I hope it isn't a permanent display. The vantage point in your first shot is quite amazing.

EG CameraGirl said...

I sooo agree with Tammie Lee. :)

Jane Hards Photography said...

I agree it is for us to show our city/town/village the good the bad and the ugly and leave persona taste aside. It would be easy to only post and highlight the best views, but this is part of your area. It's not my taste, but it is interesting to see the unusual image and not the tourist shot.

KOJohnson said...

I know that they have to attract as many visitors as possible, but this seems a failure in every possible way. There aren't that many fans of this kind of installation, not compared to fans of Versailles; and then to impose this jarring discordance on the main vista can only deeply offend those who have travelled from all around the world for one chance to see the place!