ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Philippe Parreno's Immersive Exhibition at Fondation Beyeler

exhibition · 2026-04-23

Philippe Parreno's 2012 exhibition at the Fondation Beyeler in Basel transformed Renzo Piano's building into a sensory experience. The show featured two films, CHZ and Marilyn, alongside preparatory drawings. CHZ was shot in a Portuguese garden designed by Bas Smet, with all-black plants and soil, accompanied by a deep, rumbling sound that made the screen tremble. The second film, Marilyn, used a robot with handwriting software and a computer-generated voice to recreate Marilyn Monroe's presence, exploring the illusion of life and death. The exhibition also included a DVD that could be watched only once before erasing. The show ran from June 10 to September 30, 2012.

Key facts

  • Exhibition at Fondation Beyeler, Basel, from June 10 to September 30, 2012.
  • Philippe Parreno created two films: CHZ and Marilyn.
  • CHZ was filmed in a Portuguese garden designed by Bas Smet.
  • The garden featured all-black plants and soil.
  • Marilyn used a robot and handwriting software to simulate Marilyn Monroe.
  • The exhibition included preparatory drawings for both films.
  • A DVD of the films was available, playable only once before erasing.
  • The show occupied the entire Renzo Piano building.

Entities

Artists

  • Philippe Parreno
  • Bas Smet
  • Marilyn Monroe

Institutions

  • Fondation Beyeler

Locations

  • Basel
  • Switzerland
  • Portugal

Sources