Tony Cragg and Franz Xaver Messerschmidt at the Louvre

The Louvre in Paris presents a dialogue between two sculptors: Franz Xaver Messerschmidt, an 18th-century Austrian Baroque master, and Tony Cragg, a leading figure in contemporary British sculpture. The exhibition, titled Figure out/Figure in, runs from January 28 to April 25, 2011. Messerschmidt's 'heads' explore extreme facial expressions, using his own face as a model to reveal the underlying musculature. Cragg's abstract forms, with their layered folds, echo this Baroque expressiveness. His sculptures are installed in the Marly and Puget courtyards, engaging with 17th- and 18th-century works. A new piece is displayed beneath the pyramid, requiring viewers to look up at a large red organic form. The exhibition prompts reflection on perspective, as the viewer's movement through the space alters the perception of the sculptures.