Gaïa, what are you becoming? – Group Show

In the name of the beauty of the planet, Guerlain looks to the future as it presents its new exhibition, Gaïa, what are you becoming? between 18 October and 8 November 2019 in its historic boutique, Guerlain House, at number 68, the Champs-Élysées.

Part of FIAC’s ‘Private Itinerary’ since 2006, this annual event is a celebration of the long-standing links between Guerlain and the contemporary arts scene.

The exhibition Gaïa, what are you becoming? brings together around twenty artists from all over the world who will shine a light on the precarious state of our natural world.

A tribute to Gaia, goddess of the Earth in the Greek pantheon, the exhibition is a call to recognize that we all have a responsibility to act, confronted as we are by a challenge that concerns every one of us: protecting our planet to ensure the generations that come after us have a future to look forward to.

Caroline Messensee, exhibition curator , states: „ Ever since, we have witnessed a transition from contemporary art that is “aware” of the environment to art that focusses on very real issues like global warming, waste reduction, recycling, biodiversity and more. Often this takes place when the worlds of the arts and environmental science come together, with visual artists adding their voices to the chorus calling for an urgent reconsideration of how we live our lives from day-to- day, becoming in the process ‘visual ambassadors’ to not just individuals but also institutions and policy- makers. „

The participating artists take different approaches, some offering a lyrical paean to the wonders of nature, others condemning the impact of unbridled, reckless human activity upon the environment. Whatever their perspective, all seek to highlight the urgent need to re-examine how we relate to this world.

Among the twenty artists represented, Guerlain is showing an array of styles, from emerging artists to those whose names are more established internationally : Allora & Calzadilla (USA), Ali Cherri (Lebanon), Julian Charriere (France + Switzerland), Russell Crotty (USA), Mark Dion (USA), Eva Jospin (France), Clay Ketter (USA), Ibrahim Mahama (Ghana) , Fabrice Monteiro (Benin), Otobong Nkanga (Nigeria), Vik Muniz (Brazil), Lucy + Jorge Orta (Argentina), Li Xin (China).

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Guerlain House
68 Avenue des Champs-Élysées
75008 Paris