Giuseppe Penone's Versailles Exhibition: Trees, Bronze, and Permanence

Giuseppe Penone presents around twenty sculptures at the Château de Versailles from June 11 to October 31, 2013, curated by Alfred Pacquement. The exhibition coincides with the 400th anniversary of André Le Nôtre's birth. Rather than creating site-specific works, Penone selected autonomous pieces centered on trees and bronze, exploring light, gravity, and growth. Works include 'Respirare l'ombra' (breathing shadow) made of Thessalian leaves inside the château, an 'Albero' (hollowed tree) in the Gabriel staircase, and 'Tra Scorza e Scorza' (Between Bark and Bark) on the terraces—a bronze bark mold with a real tree planted between. Penone emphasizes the durability of bronze, which he considers ideal for its resemblance to wood and its longevity. He critiques ephemeral art, arguing that artworks should be conceived to last, and defends the role of private collectors in preserving art. The interview, conducted at the École nationale des beaux-arts de Paris on February 12, 2013, also touches on cultural exchanges between European and American conceptual artists, noting differences rooted in Catholic versus Protestant traditions.