Le Corbusier’s Couvent de La Tourette was built for Dominicans in 1960

After his sad adventures in Versailles this fall, Anish Kapoor needed some respite. And this is what Couvent de La Tourette in Burgundy, is offering him until January 4th. The Dominican convent, built by Le Corbusier (who died 50 years ago) is a fascinating stage for Kapoor’s sculptures and paintings. Built at the same time as the architect’s other project of Chandigarth, it is made of concrete, with linear windows designed by music composer Xenakis. It lies thirty minutes from Lyon in a beautiful countryside and is home to twelve monks from the Dominican order founded 900 years ago.

Black “Aluminum mirror”, 2011 by Anish Kapoor in the dining hall

Eight years ago, frère Marc Chauveau, an art historian and passionate of contemporary art, instigated  a series of exhibitions by living artists in the convent. The first one was François Morrelet who showed linear neons among the concrete lines of Le Corbusier’s architecture. Anne and Patrick Poirier followed with many more… The glass windows designed by music composer Iannis Xenakis (who was also an engineer and an architect), converse beautifully with Le Corbusier’s stern architecture.

A view of the main church with three openings designed by Le Corbusier

The twelve « brothers » who still live in this historical building (soon to be listed by UNESCO) were somewhat surprised by some of the more sanguine paintings by the artist. But the dialogue between the « sky mirror », 2007, which lets the sky and its clouds come down to earth in the interior courtyard, and the black “Aluminum mirror” in the refectory, work beautifully and even the « gold corner » mirror lent by Maya Hoffman, seems to have been conceived for the place. « Your works inhabit La Tourette, they are not just exhibited here » told Frère Marc to Kapoor when he came to visit the show.

Seen from below,  the same colorful openings in the windowless room where each brother has his own concrete altar to celebrate mass

And this is immediately apparent when entering the main chapel and discovering three colorful openings conceived by le Corbusier which could have been designed by Kapoor.

At a time when everyone tries to use contemporary art to enliven patrimonial spaces, Brother Marc has been inspired by God. This exhibition is so adequate and so soothing, that I was invaded by the architect’s genius and wish I had booked a room in the convent for the night. Having dinner in front of a Kapoor, would definitely be inspiring.

“Sky mirror” recreates Le Corbusier’s architecture

This exhibition is part of the Lyon Biennale 2015, curated by Thierry Raspail, which shows at the Sucrière a fabulous installation by Céleste Boursier-Mougenot of cherry pits falling on drums. And also Greek artist’s Andreas Lolis, marble homeless houses, that look like cardboard shelters. Two works that will remain in art history (until January 3. Couvent de la Tourette is closed between Christmas and New Year).

Andreas Lolis installation for the homeless is in marble