Following the successful shows by Jeff Koons, Xavier Veilhan and Takashi Murakami, this summer will see another artist, Benar Venet, exhibit at the Palace of Versailles.

The exhibition, organised by curator Bernard Marcadé, will feature seven sculptural works in the Palace of Versailles gardens and the Marly Estate.

"I was excited when Jean-Jacques Aillagon asked me to take over the Palace of Versailles for two reasons: because it was an amazing backdrop for my sculptures, and because it was an amazing opportunity to capture my conception of space." says Venet.

"I found Versailles fascinating even before they started organising contemporary art exhibitions. I made my own photomontages, overlaying my sculptures and the Chateau de Versailles backdrops, long before the Jeff Koons exhibition. I kept that project secret, along with several other “perfect views” for my work.

During the Versailles heyday, those projects would have been called 'caprices'. The only difference is that, in my case, they were sculptural rather than architectural 'caprices'. Versailles, as I see it, is all about wide open spaces and perspectives that stretch as far as the eye can see.

It is the perfect venue for my sculptures – and a real challenge to take on such a sublime, grandiose milieu.

My Arcs have to blend in without fading away in the backdrop. So I have to accommodate several variables. That was why I decided to tailor new sculptures to the area’s topology and scale.

It was clear at the start that my sculptures would not be on show inside the Château, as they would unleash their full potential in the paths across Le Notre’s gardens.

I am thinking about the sunrises and sunsets, and the golden light that steeps the Corten steel in red and brown hints. The curves on my sculptures will contrast with the angular geometry in the gardens, and espouse the circular edges around the Basin d’Apollon and Grand Canal."

The show opens on June the 1st and will run until November.