FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Entertainment

2,000 Orb Installation Dances Its Way Into Versailles Gardens

Featuring 2,000 hand-blown glass orbs, Jean-Michel Othoniel's "Beautiful Dances" is a moving tribute to the patronage and kinetic passions of Louis XIV.

Images via

With more than six million visitors per year, the Gardens of Versailles are one of France's most visited attractions. The result of a major land acquisition by King Louis XIII in 1632, the beauty of the gardens has been revered so long that the site, with its sprawling, geometric architectures, and immaculately landscaped lawns and topiaries, has become something of a sacred cultural site for the French: since its 17th Century design at the hands of Louis XIV and landscape architect André Le Nôtre, additions to the site have been few and far between— until now.

Advertisement

For the first time in over 300 years, a new permanent installation will be introduced into the Water Theater grove pools at the Gardens of Versailles. Designed by French sculptor, Jean-Michel Othoniel, as part of a collaboration with landscape architect Louis BenechBeautiful Dances features three spiraling sculptures, made up of a total of 2,000 hand-blown, grapefruit-sized glass orbs. Based on an annotated series of dance steps Louis XIV studied in his youth, the three sculptures resemble the abstracted movements of a water ballet between a king and queen.

Explained Othoniel to the Wall Street Journal, "I am dialoguing with history, but also creating a contemporary discourse that will become the next chapter in the history of a legendary location." In the crowd-sourcing spirit of Louis XIV, Othoniel even enlisted a team of traditional Italian glassblowing artisans to create the four blue orbs that will mark the fountains, and hydraulic engineers to revert the fountain nozzles to their original 17th Century designs.

Explained Versailles President Catherine Pégard, Louis XIV, "surrounded himself with the greatest artists of his time." Benech and Othoniel's new project is a continuation of Versailles' history as "a place for creativity and creation." Below, images of the creation of Beautiful Dances:

To learn more about Jean-Michel Othoniel, visit the artist on Galerie Perrotin, and to learn more about the legendary site, check out Chateau Versailles online. h/t Co.Design & WSJ

Related:

Sculptor Creates Illusion Of 'Elastic' Metal In London Subway

Takeshi Murata Made An Animated Sculpture That Melts Into Itself

Richie Hawtin & Anish Kapoor | Richie Hawtin | The Creators Project