‘Entre-Deux’ Exhibition Synopsis

GalerieTaisei is pleased to present an exhibition of Le Corbusier’s later years lithograph prints collection, ‘Entre-Deux’ (‘Between-Two’).

Le Corbusier is known to have left many works of paintings, yet since the 1950s, he spared a lot of time working especially on his print works. Among his numerous print collections, ‘Le Poemé de l’Angle Droit’ (‘The Poem of the Right Angle’) (1955) is best known, however, his other print works have been rarely featured or exhibited. In that situation, ‘Entre-Deux’ (‘Between-Two’) which we are introducing this time would become a highly important collection of his works to know his view of the world during his later years.

This collection, ‘Entre-Deux’ (‘Between-Two’) was produced and published from January 1957, the year Le Corbusier turned 70, to 1964, the year before his death. As its subtitle, ‘ou propos toujours reliés’ (‘or about always linked topics’), implies, his poems and illustrations in the collection would pour forth through his muttered monologues and arising associated ideas as well as his old memories and interest on mysterious things that together reveal his inner thoughts. There are also unexpected discoveries in his rambling words as if to disclose his real intentions and true meanings.

As imageries of familiar motifs which anyone who knows Le Corbusier’s paintings would have seen previously are presented along with his words, together, giving a deeper sense of meanings. In the ceaselessly continuous associations, the forms of a stone with two stripe patterns and a bull (or water buffalo) (with the crescent moon shaped two horns) repeatedly appear as particularly important motifs, and these symbolize the ‘two’ worlds that are also referred to in the title.

While in his ‘Le Poemé de l’Angle Droit’ (‘The Poem of the Right Angle’), Le Corbusier emphasized the importance of ‘addition of (+) the right angle and crossed straight lines,’ in his ‘Entre-Deux’ (‘Between-Two’), he desired for the ‘equalizing (=) parallel lines,’ and spoke of ‘the meaningfulness of having two things,’ reflecting his way of life in wishing to hold the value in the communication to occur between the two.

It may be interpreted that as getting older, Le Corbusier had reached a stage in life to embrace the existence of all things and the dialogs they create and to observe them as they transpire.

In this exhibition, we are presenting an approximately 7 minute long video clip to show Le Corbusier’s prints in still and moving images as his poems are recited in French. In addition, a solo piano piece, ‘Evryali,’ by Jannis Xenakis who once worked for Le Corbusier but later became a respected contemporary music composer, is used in the sound track for the video clip.

Because the prints in ‘Entre-Deux’ (‘Between-Two’) to be presented this time are printed on both sides of the paper, thus it cannot be displayed on walls like other works. Therefore, after thoroughly considering ways in which to introduce both his flowing words and illustrations without breaking the composition, we have ultimately decided a video clip to be the best suited method for showing.

By so adopting this method for showing, we sincerely hope many people will come and visit not only to enjoy but also to deeply understand the appeal of this work. So please listen carefully to hear the whispering and murmuring voice of Le Corbusier.

Exhibition Data: ‘Entre-Deux’

Release Date: January 15, 2020

Exhibition: Le Corbusier, ‘Entre-Deux’ (‘Between-Two’) Exhibition

Exhibition Synopsis:
Misa Hayashi, Taisei Curator, Taisei Galerie,
Taisei Corporation

Exhibition Feature Essay:
‘In the ‘Entre-Deux’ (‘Between-Two’) ━ Fluctuations and Generations interwoven through its texts and Images’
Michio Kato, Professor Emeritus,
The University of Tokyo

Exhibition Contents:
Video Clip: Introducing Le Corbusier’s ‘Entre-Deux’ (‘Between-Two’)
Directed by: Naoko Tamura
Photography by: Naoko Tamura
Takeshi Sewaki
Poetry Recitation in French by:
Manuel Tardits
Japanese Translated Text based on Translation Works by:
Michio Kato
Shozaburo Onozuka
Kanata Tanaka
Sound Track Music:
Jannis Xenakis Composed, ‘Evryali,’
Solo Piano by Yuri Morimoto
Edited by: Akio Okamoto
Produced : Echelle-1, Inc.
Playing Time: Approximately 7 Minutes

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