From May 12 to October 15, 2012, the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco will open a major exhibit 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, on the terrace panorama, and at the Place du Casino in Monaco.
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, the Prince Albert I, wishing « to gather together in a common eclat 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 expose 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 crossroad for mediation between scientific, political, socio-economic actors and the general public, in favor 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, the Prince Albert I of Monaco - great grandfather of the Sovereign Prince Albert II of Monaco - to better disseminate knowledge of the sea, to awe 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 40,000 liters tank, uncovers 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.