Images at night: celebrating Europe, the Grand Palais becomes a digital hothouse

by Brent Gregston

Article published on the 2008-12-29 Latest update 2008-12-29 10:51 TU

General view of Grand Palais during "Dans la nuit, des images".
(Credit: Reuters)

The Grand Palais is one of the great 19th-century landmarks in Paris. What better place for a 21st-century digital art exhibition? Dans la nuit, des images (In the night, images) lasts until the New Year.

Until the end of December, 130 video artists are projecting their work onto the floor, the walls, and the arching glass dome of the Grand Palais. Even the façade is part of the show. It is covered with floating words and phrases from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The facade of the Grand Palais lit by artist Charles Sandison.
(Credit: Reuters)

When France took over the EU presidency in July, the Eiffel Tower was lit up in the EU colour – cobalt blue. Now the French are marking the end of their six-month term with another amazing display of imagery.

140 works were created by artists from across the world, including the EU's 27 member states, in a reminder that digital technology has also infiltrated the arts world.

Digital artworks have now achieved not only poetry and emotion, but also political recognition.

Images by artist Kurt Hentschlager projected below on the roof of the Grand Palais.
(Credit: Reuters)

The exhibition contains work by young artists and big names such as Thierry Kuntzel, Bob Wilson, Bill Viola, William Klein, and William Kentridge.

Most of the videos are short, and their themes varied. Laurent Grasso, who won this year's prestigious Prix Marcel Duchamp, has reproduced a solar eclipse while Chinese artist Liu Zhenchen documents the destruction of old Shanghai.