“La destruction n’est pas une fin en soi” (Pied) 2017, in the main hall of Musée Guimet, plaster and incense sticks

I first attended a Prune Nourry show in 2011, when Tatyana Franck, then 26, exhibited her work in an empty apartment of Faubourg St Honoré with Sophie Ubald Bocquet. These very young ladies were quite excited over their friend’s « Terracotta Daughters » and one could sense success around the corner. Tatyana went on to exhibit Prune Nourry in Mexico, Zürich and New York and became the curator of Musée de l’Elysée in Lausanne. Six years later, Prune Nourry shows at Galerie Templon in Brussels and is given a « carte blanche » on the four floors of Musée Guimet. Where will she stop ?

Terracotta daughters, 2013

One is given a little map at the entrance of the Museum for Asian art, in order to find the fifteen statues selected or created by the artist. The themes Abundance, Sakti, Benevolence, Serendipity…are based on a conversation between a statue from the museum and one created by Prune Nourry. Avadokiteshvara Bodhisattva, a Vietnamese multi armed statue from the 18 th century is confronted to “Transfusion”, from Prune’s Holy River Indian project in 2012.

Porcelain army, 2016 in front of Three women Bearing offerings, China, late 6 th century

The systematics of this face to face installation is not always interesting but her giant foot in the hallway and giant buddha face which you enter through the ear on the last floor rotunda, are quite amazing. Her buddhas are inspired by the Bamyan buddhas that were destroyed in Afghanistan. Her quest is both sociological (with Christophe Guilmoto) and political and is based on Asian cultures, from India and China predominantly. Very inspired by demography, reproduction and genetic manipulation, she has named her shows, “the Sperm bar”,  “In vitro” and “Domestic babies”. At 32, she has already exhibited all around the world.

The buddha on the last floor is entered through its ear. Incense sticks form the red shadow and inside is a red glittering shrine

Prune Nourry became world famous with her quest for saving girls’ lives in China at a time when boys were preferred in one child families. She ended up burrying her Terracotta daughters modeled after the terracotta army found in XIAN. « What would Buddha’s smile be if he were a woman » is one of the questions she puts forward. « Restoring to the anonymous their own face and identity » is another of her combats.

Prune Nourry, a very determined 32 year old lady, lives between Brooklyn and Paris

Of course one wonders if she is right when she shows three astoundingly beautiful Ming 6 th century figurines facing her own porcelain army and says : « Figurines that yesterday exalted the glory of the mighty and today highlight inequality »… but her provocative discourse is interesting anyway.

This show gives a new energy to Musée Guimet which houses the treasures of Cambodia and China, Japan and India. It means that young people interested in Nourry’s work will want to step inside this magical place. Trained as a wood sculptor at Ecole Boulle in Paris, Prune Nourry also designed plates with JR, another provocative French artist, and they are edited by Bernardaud, the porcelain manufacturer, who asked twelve artists to create china for the celebration of their 150 th anniversary. This is a nice way to own one of her works. (until 18 September)

Uchikake, détail of an early 19 th century kimono with quarter circle designs and pine trees

And while visiting Musée Guimet, don’t miss the kimono collection from Matsukzakaya on the basement floor. It is a precious expression of Japanese art. (until May 22)