Bernar Venet has gained worldwide authority as a minimalist conceptual artist. Venet became well know in the 1960s for his installations made by piling up loose gravel, coal or asphalt. Shortly after, inspired by his move to NYC, he began to produce wall mounted and free standing metal sculptures. The corten steel oversized sculptures resemble scribbles, arches and arcs. His large scale work is so pure and so minimal. I’m especially a big fan of his work which he randomly lets fall in place after stacking them in a deliberate way. Venet says that his sculptures are about “how metal resists. They are a test of strength, a battle between myself and the piece of metal.”
On this Provence estate in Le Muy, which he purchased back in the 80’s, he has curated a truly astonishing collection of art which opened to the public in 2014. There is the Stella Chapel by Frank Stella, a work in the Skyspaces serie by James Turrell and plenty of monumental pieces by Bernar Venet and other major artists, who have become his friends.
LE MUY, France
