Kennedy Yanko’s Sculptural Vision Unfolds in Paris
Twisted metallic forms crafted from industrial salvage reveal the hidden geometries of architectural heritage at the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine, as part of Art Basel Paris's discerning public programme.
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There exists a peculiar poetry in the transformation of industrial detritus into contemplative sculpture, and Kennedy Yanko’s arresting body of work epitomises this alchemy with consummate grace. The artist’s twisted metallic forms, composed from reclaimed scrap metal and weathered paint skins, now occupy the galleries of the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine in Paris, forming part of Art Basel’s thoughtfully curated Public Programme.
Yanko’s sculptures engage in a sophisticated dialogue with the Cité’s permanent collection of architectural casts, those remarkable repositories of classical and contemporary structural forms. By positioning these industrial creations alongside the gallery’s assembled heritage, the artist orchestrates a revelation: the undersides and hidden geometries that typically remain obscured from public view become unexpectedly visible, inviting contemplation of architecture’s concealed complexity.
The interplay between Yanko’s salvaged materials and the Cité’s architectural documentation creates a narrative of excavation and exposure. Where conventional structures present their refined facades to the world, these sculptures celebrate the raw, the weathered, the structural truths that lie beneath surface aesthetics. The twisted forms possess an organic vitality, each bend and curve suggesting narratives of industrial transformation and artistic reimagining.
This exhibition exemplifies Art Basel’s commitment to expanding the conversation beyond the fair itself, creating opportunities for deeper artistic engagement within cultural institutions of international standing. The Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine serves as an ideal venue for such inquiry, its own architecture a testament to the preservation and celebration of built heritage.
Through January 3, 2027, visitors are invited to experience Yanko’s vision within this distinguished setting, where contemporary artistic practice meets the scholarly study of architectural form. The programme benefits from the enlightened patronage of Miu Miu, whose commitment to cultural endeavour continues to enrich the international art calendar.
Imagery courtesy of Art Basel (@artbasel).