On a beautiful fall day in New York I was lucky enough to catch the Les Lalanne exhibit, The Poetry of Sculpture at Sotheby’s at my friend Elizabeth Moore’s recommendation. I had heard what an incredible installation it was and it far exceeded my wildest dreams. Four vignettes that feel genuinely authentic replicating garden settings for these magical bronze and stone works have been carefully designed as backdrops to Francois-Xavier and Claude Lalannes‘ handsome sculptures. There is even a reflecting pool with waterlilies and the sound of the Olympe (Petit) fountain trickling into the water was so peaceful I didn’t want to ever leave. The rooms have all been painted very dark so that you feel as if you’re in a completely private boxwood hedge environment at night and around every corner is another creature ready to greet you. In contrast, one room hidden in the back corner of the exhibit houses more of the functional pieces-the spectacular pair of Crococonsoles, Miroir, and Singe Allume, two bronze monkey lamps-all at home in a warm reddish brown glowing space. I was the only person in the exhibit except a lovely woman watering the moss that covers the ground platforms throughout the exhibit making my experience even more wonderful. The mastery of these two sculpture masters and curation of Paul Kasmin and Michael Shvo in collaboration with Sotheby’s was a strike of genius. I will let the images speak for themselves but it is a magical and beautiful installation, catch it this week before the show closes November 22nd.
The view as you enter the exhibit
Nouveau Lapin de Victoire (grand), bronze 2010
Olympe (petit) bronze fountain with Carpe (petit) bronze and Tortue Topiaire ii copper in the foreground
La Grande Ourse bronze, 84″ x 39″, 1994
Oiseau de Marbre chair, Oiseau de Marbre low table, marble and iron painted black 1974
Metaphore, white bronze 2002
Singe Attentif, zinc 2011
Pomme D’ hiver, bronze 2008
Requin (moyen), Manganese white bronze 2003
Moutons De Laine (Troupeau de 3), Miroir, Crococonsoles and Chouette De Cristal
Crococonsole, bronze 2012
Grue Lumineuse
Chouette de Cristal (front view), crystal 2003
Chouette de Cristal (side view), crystal 2003
Singe Allume, silver 2002