Anish Kapoor's Visceral Vanitas in Provence

Anish Kapoor's exhibition at Commanderie de Peyrassol in Flassans-sur-Issole, open until November 30, 2021, presents a series of works from 2016–2017 exploring vanitas themes through hyperrealistic flesh-like sculptures. The show, inaugurated on June 22, marks the first time these pieces are displayed together. Kapoor, born in Mumbai in 1954 and based in London, uses silicone, fiberglass, and gauze to create bloody carcasses that evoke mortality, sacrifice, and the materiality of the body. The works engage both sight and smell, with a strong odor of decay. The artist cites Caravaggio and Flemish butcher scenes as influences, but abstracts the subject. The exhibition precedes two upcoming shows: one at the Museum of Modern Art Oxford in October focusing on his paintings, and a major retrospective at Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice during the next Biennale. Commanderie de Peyrassol is a 850-hectare vineyard estate owned by Philippe Austruy, featuring over 100 outdoor sculptures by artists like Ugo Rondinone, Carsten Höller, and Antony Gormley. A 200-square-meter space built in 2020 hosts temporary exhibitions. The estate collaborates with Galleria Continua, which added works by Loris Cecchini, Daniel Buren, and Sun Yuan & Peng Yu.