ART CITIES: Paris-Ernesto Neto
Through his formal vocabulary, Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto engages with the idea of social interaction. Neto has gained acclaim for his large experimental sculptures and installations that dramatically alter our surroundings, activating the senses and inviting viewer participation. The unconventional choice of materials, the simultaneity of internal and external structures, the contrast between the organic and the mechanical, and the qualities of sensuality and tactility, are all deeply inherent to the artist’s practice.
By Efi Michalarou
Photo: Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche Archive
Ernesto Neto’s installations draw on the lessons of minimalist sculpture, New Brazilian Objectivity of the 1960s and 70s, and anthropomorphic architecture, transporting the viewer from the hustle and bustle of everyday existence into immersive, multi-sensory environments where time seems to slow down. Ernesto Neto transforms Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche with “Le La Serpent”, an exhibition celebrating the tenth anniversary of the department store‘s annual artist-invitation series. The exhibition offers a profound interpretation of the myth of Adam and Eve, presenting the serpent not as a symbol of sin but as a maternal force. At the heart of the exhibition is “Before Time Appeared”, an immersive sculptural installation inviting visitors to walk barefoot into a multisensory experience. The trunk of the sculpture is filled with dried leaves, turmeric, cumin, and white paper derived from trees, evoking life’s interconnectedness through scent and touch. Suspended under the iconic glass ceiling of Le Bon Marché, a 28-meter-long crochet serpent, supported by bamboo arches, winds through the space. Neto describes the installation as an opportunity for visitors to connect deeply with their senses, noting, “I want to remind people that they have a body—that they can feel it. Scents activate memory and help us reconnect with our own essence”. The title “Le La Serpent” reflects Ernesto Neto’s intention to challenge gender norms and celebrate feminine origins. In Portuguese, the word for serpent is feminine, which the artist aligns with Eve’s pivotal role in the Genesis story. By combining the French articles ‘le’ and ‘la’, Neto alludes to the union of Adam and Eve, positioning the serpent as a divine figure transcending gender—a bearer of life and wisdom. The exhibition honors the store’s founders, Aristide and Marguerite Boucicaut, who introduced the White Month in the 19th century, stipulating that participating artists incorporate white into their works. Neto achieves this by integrating white paper and chalk for ephemeral visitor drawings on the walls. The exhibition extends beyond the interior of the Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche department store, with interactive window displays and installations along Rue de Sèvres and Rue du Bac. In the series “Between Light and Shadow”, “the Collective is the Path”, a serpent figure slithers across ten window displays, inviting passersby to follow its journey. Another series, “Le L’Archéologie”, highlights the creative process behind Neto’s works. Visitors can explore these narratives through guided tours, workshops, and a specially composed song by Neto that resonates throughout the space. Neto draws inspiration from myths such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, which emphasizes the transformation from the divine to the human and celebrates the acceptance of mortality as the essence of life. He connects the serpent’s imagery to universal symbols of renewal, spirituality, and connection, likening it to the intertwined structure of DNA. “In many cultures, the serpent is a god, It represents the bond between spirit and body” Neto explains, referencing figures like Mucalinda in Buddhist traditions and the feathered serpent in Native American lore.
Photo: Ernesto Neto, Avant que le temps n’apparaisse, 2025, © Ernesto Neto, photo © Stéphane Aboudaram, Courtesy Ernesto Neto & Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche
Info : Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, 24 rue de Sèvres, Paris, France, Duration: 18/1-15/2/2025, Mon-Sat 10:00-19:45, Sun 11:00-19:45, www.lebonmarche.com/
