An immaterial dialogue

In Mouans Sartoux, the Espace de l'Art Concret explores the collaboration between artist Yves Klein and architect Claude Parent: from the deconstruction of the architectural language to a mausoleum for Klein created by Parent.

“Yves Klein/Claude Parent – Le mémorial” is the title of this exhibition held inland off the French Riviera in L'Espace de l'Art Concret, a museum that opened in 1990, designed by Annette Gigon and Marc Guyer. Curators Fabienne Fulchéri and Eric De Backer worked with the Yves Klein Archives to illustrate the collaboration between the artist Yves Klein and the architect Claude Parent.

"Yves Klein/Claude Parent le mémorial", installation view at the Espace de l'Art Concret, Mouans-Sartoux, France. Pictured, *Rocket pneumatique*, 1962. Private collection. © EAC–Estelle Epinet

The latter has a bent for experimentation and the deconstruction of the architectural language (including neo-plastic orthogonality and obliquity), which are the same elements that constitute common ground between him and Klein. For his part, Klein was interested in new ways to unhinge painting and overcome the problem of Art. Klein found in Parent a sensitive person willing to apply his concept of immaterial architecture. By the same token, Parent was influenced by Klein to free himself from rationalism and work toward the irrational and utopian.

Claude Parent, *Fragment 2 / Lapercée Khorizon*, 1964/2012. Collection Claude Parent. © EAC–Estelle Epinet

As is well communicated by the exhibition, the relationship between the two did not end with the premature death of Klein in 1962, but continued with Klein’s mother and wife asking Parent to design a mausoleum dedicated to Klein, yet to be built in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Its design is Parent’s reflection on the subject of void, one of Klein’s favourites. Emanuele Piccardo

"Yves Klein/Claude Parent le mémorial", installation view at the Espace de l'Art Concret, Mouans-Sartoux, France

Through 25 August 2013
Yves Klein/Claude Parent — Le Mémorial
Espace de l'Art Concret
Château de Mouans, Mouans-Sartoux, France

Claude Parent, *Mémorial à Yves Klein*, 1964. Collection FRAC Centre, Orléans. Photo by Francois Lauginie

An immaterial dialogue

In Mouans Sartoux, the Espace de l'Art Concret explores the collaboration between artist Yves Klein and architect Claude Parent: from the deconstruction of the architectural language to a mausoleum for Klein created by Parent.

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