Le Corbusier – The Art of ArchitectureBarbican Art Gallery, London19 February-24 May 2009Media View: 18 February, 11am-2pmA RIBA Trust/Barbican presentation of an exhibition of the Vitra Design Museum in collaboration with the RIBA Trust and the Netherlands Architecture Institute.
Associate partners: Bally, Switzerland Tourism; Lucerne Tourism & Zürich Tourism, tp bennett, Victorinox.
Media partners: Elle Decoration, The Architects’ Journal.
Le Corbusier (1887-1965), widely acclaimed as the most influential architect of the 20th century, was also a celebrated thinker, writer and artist — a multi-faceted ‘renaissance man’. His architecture and radical ideas for reinventing modern living, from interiors and private villas to large scale social housing and utopian urban visions, still resonate today.
Le Corbusier — The Art of Architecture at Barbican Art Gallery is the first major survey in London of the internationally renowned architect in more than 20 years. This timely reassessment charts how the work of Le Corbusier — a pseudonym of Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris — changed dramatically throughout his career. Spanning a period of 60 years the exhibition includes early works inspired by his native Switzerland, the iconic white cubic buildings of the 1920s such as the famous Villa Savoye (1928-31) and culminating in the late works of the 1950s and 60s of which the Chapel of Ronchamp (1950-55) and the buildings for the Indian city of Chandigarh (1952-64) are key examples.
The exhibition focuses on Le Corbusier’s unique multi-disciplinary approach, and brings together a wealth of his paintings, films, sculpture and books alongside vintage photographs, original architectural models and interior settings. It also features important works by his collaborators and artistic contemporaries such as furniture designers Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouvé, and artists Fernand Léger and Amédée Ozenfant.
Highlights include a monumental mural painting by Le Corbusier from his office in Paris Femme et coquillage IV (1948); a complete original kitchen by Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand from his famous Unité d’habitation, Marseille (1947-50); and a reconstruction of his utopian masterplan for Paris (1925).
Presented in collaboration with the RIBA Trust, the exhibition includes key sources of inspiration for Le Corbusier, among them Fernand Léger’s The Baluster (1925), on loan from The Museum of Modern Art in New York. Originally exhibited in the Pavillon de l’Esprit Nouveau, which Le Corbusier designed for the 1925 International Exposition of Decorative Arts in Paris, this is a very rare opportunity for this important work to be seen in London. The exhibition also includes paintings and drawings by Juan Gris, Piet Mondrian and Pablo Picasso among others.
The Barbican Estate and Centre, arguably the most important expression of Corbusian ideas in the UK, provides a fascinating backdrop for this retrospective of Le Corbusier’s work. Seen in architectural forms and concepts from the famous high-walkways and pillars to the rough concrete and rooftop and vertical gardens, the work of Le Corbusier had a significant influence on the Barbican’s architects, Chamberlin, Powell and Bon.
Home to approximately 4000 residents living in more than 2000 flats, the backdrop of the Barbican Estate resonates with another addition to the exhibition, photographs of
Le Corbusier’s interiors. Providing an intimate view of his domestic spaces, they illustrate how families through to wealthy clients inhabited his residences.
The Barbican, Europe’s leading arts centre, celebrates the Le Corbusier exhibition and his dynamic cross-arts approach with its Le Corbusier at the Barbican programme. Featuring concerts, a film season, talks and events, highlights include: a day (7 March 2009) presented by the BBC Symphony Orchestra dedicated to the composer Iannis Xenakis who worked as an architect in Le Corbusier’s studio; sound workshops by electronic artists; tours of Barbican flats, artist’s films and a high-profile debate in the Barbican Hall. The talks programme, presented
in partnership with the RIBA Trust, includes Le Corbusier experts Charles Jencks, Tim Benton and Jean Louis Cohen, and the ‘Architects of the 21st Century’ events series featuring rising stars from the field of architecture and design.
Kate Bush, Head of Barbican Art Galleries, said:
“I’m delighted to be able to present this major survey of Le Corbusier’s work at the Barbican Art Gallery. Not only is it an exceptional opportunity for visitors to experience the many facets of an incredible polymath, but it has a fantastic resonance with the Barbican itself. Le Corbusier was the guiding spirit for the Centre's architects, inspired by his utopian vision as well as later buildings such as Maisons Jaoul, and Unité d'Habitation.
“As Europe's leading multi-arts centre, the Barbican is uniquely able to represent
Le Corbusier's range across many forms of expression, from art and design to music and film. We've devised a dynamic programme of music and events which will thrill audiences, whilst fully exploring Le Corbusier's legacy in the new century."
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORSPRESS INFORMATIONFor further information, images or to arrange interviews contact Barbican Art Gallery Press Office:
Lorna Gemmell, Media Relations Manager +44 207 382 7169, lgemmell@barbican.org.uk or
Alex Cattell, Media Relations Officer +44 207 382 6162, acattell@barbican.org.uk
PUBLIC INFORMATIONBarbican Art Gallery opening times: Daily 11am – 8pm
Tuesday & Wednesday 11am – 6pm
Every Thursday LATE until 10pm
Admission: £8; £6 concessions
Public information: 0845 120 7550,
www.barbican.org.uk/artgalleryAUDIO GUIDEAn accompanying audio guide offers an intimate look at the life and work of Le Corbusier.
Available from the Gallery ticket desk, price £3.
PUBLICATIONBased on new research and previously unpublished material, the accompanying book includes essays by leading scholars Stanislaus von Moos, Arthur Rüegg, Jean-Louis Cohen, Beatriz Colomina and others. Price £45.
ART GALLERY SHOPThe Art Gallery Shop has an exciting range of Le Corbusier inspired gifts to complement the exhibition, including a showcase of several pieces of authentic Le Corbusier furniture made by Cassina, leading designers and manufacturers of original contemporary furniture. Amongst the many design classics on display, the shop features a very special Limited Edition LC3 armchair, finished in natural leather a pale blue frame. A must have for any serious collector. The Shop also stocks glassware by littala, new products by cutting-edge designers and a wide selection of related publications, postcards and prints.
LE CORBUSIER AT THE BARBICANThe Barbican celebrates Le Corbusier with a host of events, concerts, films and talks. For further information please visit
www.barbican.org.uk/lecorbusier
UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE LE CORBUSIER EXHIBITION - UNIQUE SPECIAL OFFEROur special Le Corbusier Season Membership pass allows you to visit the exhibition as many times as you like and enjoy 20% off tickets to the accompanying talks and events programme, as well as discounts in the Gallery shop. You can also enjoy substantial savings and ticket offers across the rest of the Barbican's programme of film, music, art and theatre events, benefit from priority booking and get advance notification of future events. All this for a whole year! Membership is just £30 (or £25 by Direct Debit). For full details visit
www.barbican.org.uk/lecorbusierBARBICAN CENTREWorld War II bombing left the area north of St. Paul’s devastated. The City of London
proposed to transform the wasteland into modern, efficient, suburban housing. Appointed in 1959, architects Chamberlain, Powell and Bon’s plan included residential housing, schools, gardens, and later an arts centre. Construction began in 1971 and was completed in 1985. The Barbican is now recognised as a Grade II listed building, a symbol of post-war utopian vision. It has come into its own as a major London landmark and one of the City’s most iconic emblems. The Barbican Centre is the largest multi-arts centre in Europe, featuring art, film, music, theatre, dance and education all under one roof and under one creative direction.
BARBICAN ART GALLERYOne of the leading art spaces in the UK, Barbican Art Gallery presents the best of international visual art with a dynamic mix of art, architecture, design, fashion and photography. From acclaimed architects to Turner prize-winning artists, the Gallery exhibits innovators of the 20th and 21st centuries: key players who have shaped developments and stimulated change. The Curve is dedicated to a vibrant programme of new commissions, created by leading international artists in direct response to this distinctive gallery space.
Visit
www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery for more information.
EXHIBITIONThe exhibition has been curated by Le Corbusier scholars, Stanislaus von Moos and
Arthur Rüegg, alongside VITRA Design Museum curator Mateo Kries. It is organised by VITRA Design Museum in collaboration with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Trust and the Netherlands Architecture Institute.
The Barbican presentation of
Le Corbusier – The Art of Architecture is sponsored by: Associate partners: Bally, Switzerland Tourism; Lucerne Tourism & Zürich Tourism, tp bennett, Victorinox. It is supported by: Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation. The talks programme is presented by Barbican Art Gallery in partnership with the RIBA Trust and generously sponsored by Ryder Architecture.
The Barbican and the RIBA Trust are grateful to the following for their generous sponsorship of this exhibition: National Partners: European Commission Representation in the UK; National Associates: Duravit, ERCO, Liverpool John Moores University, RIBA North West, Shed KM, Sto, and Urban Splash and Touring Associate: PRO HELVETIA.
