‘The Scream’ and ‘The Dance’ Part of Paris’ Newest Art Museum

CultureMap Houston reports that the art museum’s newest exhibit displays some of the most profound and recognizable works of modern art. And in addition to the paintings and sculptures, critics are amazed with the museum’s architecture itself, with CultureMap Houston referring to it as a “glass masterpiece.”

Located in central Paris, the building was designed by the world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. Designed with an ultra-modern look in mind, the museum features a canopy of 12 glass sails atop the main gallery, which along with its large, ice-like frame, has earned it the nickname the “Iceberg.” It is, one could argue, similar in style to the Sydney Opera House, and it has definitely caught the attention of architects around the world. In fact, it has already been written up by publications such as Architectural Digest.

The Fondation Louis Vuitton was named after LVMH Moët Hennessy, the French-based multinational conglomerate known for making luxury goods. At the behest of its CEO Bernard Arnault, the construction of the museum was officially announced in 2006. After years of planning and construction, the Fondation Louis Vuitton held its grand opening in October last year.

“The success of the LVMH group relies on a strategy that combines timelessness with extreme modernity in the creation of its products,” Arnault said. “I hope that this same spirit will drive the Fondation.”

Starting in April, the museum opened its breathtaking exhibit, “Keys to a Passion.” According to the exhibit’s booklet, the gallery focuses on the major works of art of the first half of the 20th century, work that “established the foundations of modernity.” Artists featured in the exhibit include Kazimir Malevich, Claude Monet, Emil Nolde, Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, and Francis Bacon, among many others. Some of the most iconic paintings in the gallery are Henri Matisse’s “The Dance” and Edvard Munch’s “The Scream.” The gallery is set to be open through July 6th.

Already one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and home to some of the best luxury apartments, Paris will certainly draw even more visitors with its newest cultural installation.

“Fondation Louis Vuitton’s new museum will tilt the focus to a new part of Paris. Having just visited the museum last weekend, I paid particular attention to the visitors, most of whom were not French,” said Rik Gitlin, Paris Copia Concierge. “At the ticket kiosk, a large percentage of those purchasing tickets were speaking English. As the exit of the museum leads directly in to a park focused on children (Jardin d’Acclimation), many families seemed to be taking advantage of a time to picnic and spend time with the kids, many of whom had to have been bored in the museum. Many visitors opt to get back on the Metro line #1 and visit La Defense, which had faded in recent years as a tourist destination. All of that will be changing in the coming months and years as the Fondation Louis Vuitton Museum will prove to be a great and perfect addition to the classic museums including the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower.”