Too right! The man with surreal tendencies who also famously tried to bulldoze central Paris. What a man! Keep it up
Le corbusier: the art of architecture
By Paul Knipe
Who was Le Corbusier, really? More than 40 years after his death, Le Corbusier is a household name. Arguably the most influential architect of the 20th century, he was the man who gave us the principles of a style of urban planning that has spawned countless imitations around the world. He was the father of modern architecture.
Portrait of Le Corbusier "Femme et Coquillage IV"
© Fondation Le Corbusier © Fondation Le Corbusier
But behind the fame and the never ending consumption was a quiet, private man; an innovator in a number of different disciplines whose prolific output was dedicated to reinventing modern living.
The Barbican’s exhibition Le Corbusier: the art of architecture displays materials and artefacts from all aspects of his life to paint a good picture of who Le Corbusier really was. In the process it highlights areas of his work that are quite unexpected.
Did you know that he had a go at designing cars and luggage? That he was a painter of some merit? Or that he published several books during his life?
The exhibition also shows how his architecture changed as he matured: his late buildings are lyrical and organic, not the uniform precision we tend to associate with modernism. The vivid contrasts between his famous Ronchamp chapel and Villa Savoye from 20 years before reflect this.
What the Barbican has achieved with this exhibition is to condense Le Corbusier’s many attributes into a thematic and intimate spectacle.
Le Corbusier: the art of architecture is at the Barbican until 24 May.
Comments
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(Posted on 2009-03-28 17:14:00 by )
I went to this exhibition and learnt a lot. I really recommend it. It highlights the intersection between art, architecture, writing and politics. Many of the principles which Le Corbusier espoused are still relevant today.