Marc Quinn at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco

11/04/2012 Leisure

From May 12 to October 15, 2012, the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco will open a major exhibition dedicated to the British artist Marc Quinn.

Several pieces, paintings, sculptures, and installation arts will be unveiled throughout the halls of the Museum, the front courtyard and on the panoramic terrace.

Marc Quinn and the Oceanographic Museum: an alchemy, a shared universe

For this exhibition, Marc Quinn wanted to work closely with the staff members of the Oceanographic Museum and immerse himself in its space, this masterpiece of monumental and decorative art, in its atmosphere, in the diversity of its collections and the vision of its Founder, Prince Albert I, wishing "to gather together in one place the two driving forces of civilization: Art and Science" for the good of the oceans, source of life for future generations.

Life itself will be at the heart of this exhibition, a true alchemy between the world of the artist and the world of the oceans presented at the Oceanographic Museum. More than an encounter, it is about a shared universe.

An exhibition created by the artist like a dialogue renewed and unseen between Art and Science, without borders

The exceptional creations of Marc Quinn are brought together and displayed among the remarkable collection of marine specimens and underwater fauna. This exhibition will establish a renewed dialogue between Art and Science. Displayed in parallel, both disciplines will reinforce each other mutually. Their juxtaposition will show the artist’s body of work, the collections of the Museum and the Aquarium under a different perspective, allowing us to see differently what we think we know.

The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco is primarily a crossroads for mediation between scientific, political, socio-economic actors and the general public, in favour of the oceans. It is an information sharing tool for knowledge, a place of exchange and culture, which confronts experiences concerning the protection of the oceans, the common heritage of mankind. Since 2010, a new impetus has been given by asking renowned international artists to enrich the Museum’s mission through the originality of their perspective.

Built on the side of the mythical Rock of Monaco, the Museum has been watching over the oceans for over a century. It was designed as a palace solely dedicated to the sea, displaying the results of the oceanographic campaigns carried out by its founder, Prince Albert I of Monaco - great grandfather of Sovereign Prince Albert II of Monaco - to better disseminate knowledge of the sea, to impress the public and to raise awareness about its fragility.

An international reference point for all lovers of the marine world, it has a large collection of marine specimens and houses a well-known aquarium, bringing together more than 4,000 species of fish and invertebrates. Its “Shark Lagoon”, a giant 400,000-litre tank, reveals the extraordinary diversity of the coral reef.

Artist biography

Marc Quinn was born in London in 1964. He studied history and the history of art at the University of Cambridge (1982-85) and began working as a sculptor in 1984. Marc Quinn is represented by the White Cube Gallery in London and by the Mary Boon Gallery in New York. His works of art can be found in many museums and private collections worldwide.

His solo exhibitions include: Tate Gallery, London (1995), Kunstverein Hannover (1999), Fondazione Prada, Milan (2000), Tate Liverpool (2002), Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin (2004), Groninger Museum, Groningen (2006) and MACRO, Rome (2006), DHC/ART Fondation pour l’art contemporain, Montréal (2007) and the Fondation Beyeler, Basel (2009). He lives and works in London.

http://www.marcquinn.com

Practical Information

Agence Catherine Dantan

Contact: Marie Decap

7 rue Charles V - 75004 Paris - Tel: 01 40 21 05 15

E-mail: marie@catherine-dantan.fr / www.catherine-dantan.fr

Oceanographic Musem of Monaco

Contact: Pauline Hérouan

Avenue Saint-Martin - MC 98000 Monaco

Tel: +377 93 15 36 39 – p.herouan@oceano.org

The Museum is open daily (except on the day of the Formula 1 Grand Prix)

From 9:30 am to 7 pm in April, May & June