Leviathan P.V.C installation at Grand Palais in Paris, 2011. It measured – wait for it – 33.6×99.89×72.23 metres. Wowee!!!

 

Tell me – what do you do when your head is really full, your list of things to do seems to get longer each day and the more you do, the more you actually have to do… almost like you are stuck in this really weird dream? You know the feeling I’m talking about? Ok, so… do you completely freak out, lose the plot and start ripping your own hair out? Or are you more the type that sings Kumbaya and does meditation and shit? Me…? I sit somewhere in between, depending on the day really. But what I really wish I could do in those moments is escape to some amazing mind-bending place that completely takes me out of my own world, shakes me up, resets my thoughts and gives me a new perspective.

For my money, the work of celebrated Bombay born, London based artist Anish Kapoor has exactly these types of qualities. Kapoor is renowned for his enigmatic sculptural forms which are incredibly difficult to describe in words. So who am I to even try, right? Right. There is no doubt that his ginormously epic installations are captivating and visually arresting, like the incredible Leviathan (above) at Grand Palais in Paris last year (2011). It’s seriously serious and absolutely mesmerising, no? Having said this, I am equally intrigued and captivated by his smaller, seemingly simpler works, such as the Untitled series shown below. To me, looking at these incredible pure glossy shapes is a form of visual meditation (but then again, it’s no secret that I am a total visual junky). Their purity, simplicity and ability to look solid and intangible at once make them a perfect site for any sore mind…

 

Anish Kapoor’s Untitled series of works utilising materials like resin, lacquer, paint, fibreglass, copper, silver, gold plate and stainless steel.

 

By the way, I only just realised that Anish recently created an installation titled Between Shit and Architecture. Ah, I could seriously write a whole article around that title alone. So funny.

[All images courtesy of Anish Kapoor.]

 

4 Responses

  1. Heather

    Loved the last two lines! I’m so sorry I missed this exhibition and so grateful you posted about it – what a mindblowing collection of images…

    Reply
  2. Lauren

    I’m such a huge fan of Kapoor too. I’ve been lucky enough to experience some of his works and they are just so surprising and clever. Definately make your head explode a little!
    And um, it sounds like you need a holiday! Take it easy over there.

    Reply
  3. Ezabelle

    A real lesson in aiming high!

    To create these concepts in your mind is one thing, but to actually bring about such massive tangible peices…well, thats another thing. What an amazing person, to be able to acheive that.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.