#FLVfromhome : Gilbert and George

The Fondation presented a complete version of a rare series by Gilbert & George, “There Were Two Young Men” (April 1971), a “Charcoal on Paper sculpture” in six parts belonging to the Fondation’s collection. This work was first shown in 1971 at the Sperone Gallery in Turin. It is part of a series of 13 sculptures, created between 1970 and 1974, and now dispersed throughout the world.

Thanks to its monumental proportions, There Were Two Young Men suggests an immersive relationship with the viewer. This “sculpture” depicts two protagonists – the artists – in a bucolic environment whose hedonism is tinged with melancholy. They seem to be conversing quietly, leaning on a tree, in the spirit of neo-romantic British landscape painting. The graphic intrusions, in each part of the “sculpture”, from the title in capitals which pins down the image, to a handwritten poetic text in capitals and lowercase letters, adds a further complexity, alluding to the universe of popular poetry and nursery rhymes.

Gilbert & George, There Were Two Young Men (April 1971), exhibition presented from July 3rd to August 26th, 2019

© Fondation Louis Vuitton – 2019, dir. Anaïs Le Guenec

Chief curator: Suzanne Pagé

Curator: Claire Staebler 

Only available in French

Relive Gilbert and George. There were two young men (April 1971) with the co-curator of the exhibition. A rare opportunity to discover the fascinating story of this artwork, reported missing for so long.