Le Bon Marché to inaugurate 2023 with Indian artist Subodh Gupta

By

Marion Deslandes

Translated by
Nicola Mira

Published
Dec 19, 2022

Subodh Gupta, a leading figure in the contemporary art world, is the next artist to whom Le Bon Marché has given creative carte blanche inside its premises, which since 2016 have hosted works by Ai Weiwei and Joana Vasconcelos.

From January 9 to February 19, the Parisian department store will feature ‘Sangam’ (which means "confluence" in Hindi), a showcase of monumental installations designed by Gupta, an artist who likes to find new use for everyday domestic implements.

“Sangam is a cascade of mirrors and sculptures made of domestic objects. An installation that questions the audience about their journey through our consumer-oriented society,” said Gupta.

Gupta's artworks will be scattered around the department store. There will be furniture and vintage objects wrapped in ropes in the shop windows, while an oversize traditional Indian pot and a giant bucket made of shiny aluminium kitchen utensils, out of which pours a shower of mirrors, will be housed under the skylights on either side of the escalators. And on the store's second floor, there will be a hanging shack composed of vintage objects.

 
This year, Le Bon Marché has celebrated its 170th anniversary in some style, with an immersive show staged at nightfall during the summer, and a major anniversary exhibition with the colour orange centre-stage, held at the start of the year.