Isabelle Gaudefroy on Fondation Cartier's 20-Year Legacy of Artistic Freedom

Isabelle Gaudefroy, director of programming and artistic projects at Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain in Paris, discusses the institution's unique approach to art and architecture. Since joining in 1999, she has overseen exhibitions, Soirées Nomades, and publications. The foundation, housed in Jean Nouvel's glass building, operates without permanent walls, allowing artists to reinvent the space for each project. Gaudefroy curated the ongoing exhibition on Junya Ishigami, 'Freeing Architecture,' the foundation's first major architectural monograph. She contrasts the foundation's model with public museums, emphasizing support for artists' free creation over exhaustive displays. The foundation is entirely funded by Cartier, with no external partnerships or public subsidies. A recent partnership with Power Station of Art in Shanghai showcased the permanent collection, which grows through exhibitions rather than being displayed separately. Upcoming in autumn 2018 is 'Géométries du Sud. Du Méxique à la Terre de Feu,' focusing on geometry in Latin America, featuring architects Solano Benítez and Freddy Mamani. Gaudefroy highlights the foundation's commitment to reinventing its aesthetic with each project, avoiding a recognizable style.