How can you not love a building that looks like this? Something completely different from the expected chateaux, cathedrals, and famous monuments. When you walk into the courtyard, a “red carpet” greets you, taking you to the front entrance and a multitude of intriguing signs.
La Fondation du Doute, building front
La Fondation du Doute, left wing
The yellow sign at the top reads: “To create is to doubt and to doubt is to create.”
Honestly, it was challenging to decide which sections and which placards to photograph. There was something in every grouping that intrigued, amused, or provoked thought. Here is a sampling.
Front Door: Enter
Arr is Pretension. I am shy.
Corner (with arrow). I loved this one. It amused me with its obviousness. I also liked the phrase in the upper, right-hand corner: Truth will change art.
The more things change, the more they stay the same: A common English expression, as well.
Art is a cul de sac.
Black on yellow. Other thoughts expressed: A chair is a chair and me, I am me. It’s difficult to love. All and yet more. Forget this text.
Reality
The philosophy behind La Fondation du Doute: Everything is art; nothing is art. The exhibition I viewed is centered around “the limits of truth” proposed by French artist Ben Vautier, known for his text-based paintings. An interactive exhibit engaged viewers to contribute to a wall-sized display. Clippings, photos, tape, string, and scissors were available as the creative tools.
Interactive Artwork
My contribution is the Volkswagen driving out of the girl’s mouth and the words: A Nightmare.
The exhibitions were as unique and unexpected as one might think. One wall held “petrified” place settings of leftovers glued to tablecloths. These leftovers looked to be several decades old and were decaying. Quite unappetizing. My favorite exhibit featured car doors with motorized hammers. When you entered the room, the hammers activated and began banging against the metal doors. The hammers hit randomly rather than simultaneously, which felt musical to me.
Car Doors
Banging Car Doors
Here’s another exhibition I found interesting.
Piano Piece–Text
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