Le Grand Amour

2004

Painted photograph

136.2 x 107.4 cm (53 5/8 x 42 5/16 in.)

A Buddhist monk is sat against a tree surrounded by lush flowers, a symbol of Great Love (“le grand amour”) according to Pierre et Gilles. By shredding a figure of oriental wisdom in a golden halo similar to that of Christian saints, the art duo shows their interest for icons and the sometimes unexpected juxtaposition of different cultures in a single composition.

A couple in both their private and artistic life, Pierre et Gilles say their work is “a theatrical adventure with its props, wardrobe, make-up and gestures.” Their painted photographs full of details and meaning, as exemplified in Le Grand Amour, create a close link between popular culture and spirituality.

Le Grand Amour was first shown by the Pinault Collection in the exhibition The Passage of Time at the Tri Postal in Lille, in 2007-2008.
Exhibitions