Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Tinguely, Pontus Hulten at the Grand Palais

With the Centre Pompidou now closed for what is planned to be a five-year long renovation, the museum is embarking on a “Constellation” program, staging exhibits using their collection at other venues throughout France. One of those venues is the Grand Palais, the Parisian event and exhibition space that dates back to 1900. The Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Tinguely, Pontus Hulten exhibit is one of two at the Grand Palais.

Saint Phalle and Tinguely, who were married, were modern art sculptors. Saint Phalle was French and Tinguely was from Switzerland. Tinguely created machine-like contraptions that would come alive, banging, clanging and moving in all directions like the above video of “Hell, a small beginning.” Saint Clare created big colorful sculptures, often with a feminist twist. Hulten was a Swedish art collector, curator and museum director. He actively promoted Saint Clare and Tinguely’s work. Hulten was the first director of the Musée National d’Art Moderne.

Jean Tinguely

Niki de Saint Phalle