Felipe Pantone & Pablo Limón: Casa Variable - Paris

In his work Felipe Pantone stands out as a worthy heir to the 20th century optico-kinetic precursors. With the 'Casa Variable' project, the anchoring in the history of art goes back even further, echoing the notion of Total Art that emerged in the 19th century and probably laid the foundations of modernity in art.

‘Total Art’ or ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’ in German, as theorized then, aims to encompass several creative forms. It already fascinated the essayist Tradndorff in 1827, as well as his contemporary Wagner, as a form of search for an absolute ideal in the aesthetic field. In his two essays, written in 1849, ‘Art and Revolution’ and ‘Work of the Future’, Wagner writes about "the accomplishment of works of the future" and underlines his dream of bringing together all forms of art, through theater in his case.

The Gesamtkunstwerk is based on broad values, and even beliefs, which irrigate our world more broadly. The creators who adopted it favor collaboration between artists and different forms of expression with the avowed aim of creating environments, whether physical, made of sounds or other creative ways, with the potential to build a more equitable and perhaps utopian society.

Thanks to Felipe Pantone and Pablo Limón, the visual and chromatic value of what surrounds us is also here put at the service of a total project. More than a work of art, it is also about creating real architecture, a real home to live in. Or, conversely, to build a house, which is activated like a real work of art ... ‘Casa Variable’ aims at creating a fair and consistent unity. But what is being consistent these days? In its form, ‘Casa Variable’ aligns art and architecture with precision. The project also touches on the values that are shaking the planet, from integrity to environmental sustainability through collaboration, but also questioning the intellectual values of art.

‘Casa Variable’ is an experience to be lived, that is felt physically. The union between the work and the metaphor it carries brings together art, architecture and even design in an extremely coherent way. Rarely in the Gesamtkunstwerk has painting been the trigger for such an experience, the completion of which, it should be noted, will be effective with the construction of the Casa Variable. ◼︎

Pantone说：“Carlos Cruz-Diez总是谈论着要在艺术中生活。Casa Variable便是这一理念的化身，其雄心是创造一件包罗万象的艺术作品，从家具到游泳池，到邮箱，甚至到门把手。所有的东西都指向相同的美学理想。展览的关键元素是一座房子，这座房子的模型向参观者们展示了真实的住宅模样。建筑每个部分的蓝图也是展览的一部分，Limón说，“这样一来，观看展览的人们便能明白这个项目并不是所谓的幻想，而是真正可以去实现的。”

“我们一定要建造这座房子。Pablo有一整个建筑师团队，也是他们设计了这栋房子的每一个部分。”

- Felipe Pantone

从未有一场展览将 Felipe Pantone的语言展现得如此透彻，从未有一场展览将这位艺术家对与色彩光谱、运动、转换变形、尺度、与材料的全神贯注如此具体化。当然，想想绘画，想想雕塑，再想想椅子、桌子、台灯、地毯…… Felipe Pantone愿意接受各种各样的媒介，使艺术融入生活，这与早期视觉艺术先驱的愿景非常一致，比如 Victor Vasarely、Carlos Cruz-Diez、与Yaacov Agam，Pantone的精神教父们，在那个时代也为设计美学和建筑做出了非同小可的贡献。