The Last Supper
1999
Black and white gelatin-silver prints
Four panels: 118.1 x 149.3 cm (46 1/2 x 58 13/16 in.) (each) Center panel: 118.1 x 109.2 cm (46 1/2 x 43 in.)
The Last Supper reproduces Leonardo da Vinci's fresco in striking chiaroscuro. The Japanese artist uses wax mannequins to depict Christ and the apostles. Hiroshi Sugimoto's sober, amazingly realistic, extremely meticulous photographs almost look alive.
Here he explores here the concepts of light, space and time by questioning the legacy of classical painting. The work is based on Leonardo's legendary fresco The Last Supper, which was restored many times due to its fragility. The photographed mannequins prompt the viewer to deeply reflect on time and art history.
It was presented for the first time by the Pinault Collection during the 2007 “Passage du temps” (“Passage of Time”) show at the Tri Postal in Lille.
Here he explores here the concepts of light, space and time by questioning the legacy of classical painting. The work is based on Leonardo's legendary fresco The Last Supper, which was restored many times due to its fragility. The photographed mannequins prompt the viewer to deeply reflect on time and art history.
It was presented for the first time by the Pinault Collection during the 2007 “Passage du temps” (“Passage of Time”) show at the Tri Postal in Lille.
Exhibitions
© Hiroshi Sugimoto
Courtesy the Koyanagi Gallery
© Hiroshi Sugimoto
Photo: diane arques © Adagp, Paris.
Exhibition view, Echos, European Heritage Days 2016, Chapelle Laennec, Paris, September 17 - October 10 2016.
