"Art Experience and the Power of Space": Thoughts on an Exhibition at a Chateau in France
- Kaitani Wakana
- Oct 16
- 4 min read
By Kaitani Wakana
Published: SEP 8, 2025
In recent years, there has been a surge in attempts to break away from the white cube (a space with homogeneous white walls) and incorporate space and architecture as part of the artwork. The art experience is not complete with the artwork alone. The meaning of the art experience is determined by the history of the exhibition space and building, the cultural background of the audience, the ingenuity of the exhibition design, and even the type of funding that supports the exhibition. Using the contemporary art exhibition "Forget Me Not," held in June this year, as an example, I would like to consider the relationship between exhibition space and artwork, and future possibilities. (Kaitani Wakana)
A vibrant space where eras and cultures intersect
As we drove through the wooded, bumpy paths, like being rocked in a horse-drawn carriage, the 17th-century castle, Château de Lanteuil (Normandy, France), came into view. Surrounded by expansive gardens, antique furniture, and portraits, the space still tells the story of the family that once lived here.
London-based Chinese artist Xu Yang's "Forget Me Not" series featured works that combined 18th-century French Rococo with Chinese opera masks, ceramics, Qing Dynasty designs, Dutch still life paintings, and everyday motifs like flowers and animals. The intersection of time and culture created a vibrant world throughout the space. The exhibition was curated by Lucy von Goetz of von Goetz Art Advisory.
Social context and space shape art experiences
Looking back at history, the evaluation of artworks has fluctuated greatly depending on social circumstances. It is well known that the Nazis banned modern art, labeling it "degenerate." Artists who were once considered outliers are now central figures in art museums. In recent years, numerous exhibitions have been held in the context of feminism, reevaluating long-overlooked female artists. Changing social contexts continue to bestow new meanings on artworks.Society is not the only factor that shapes context. Architectural spaces can also significantly change the meaning and role of artworks.
Contemporary art set in historic buildings, in particular, can offer completely different experiences depending on how the symbolism of the space is handled. It is well-known that in 2010, Takashi Murakami installed a work at the Palace of Versailles, and Damien Hirst held an exhibition at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, a historic building completed in the 14th century. While Murakami's "Murakami Versailles" exhibition was consumed as a topic of discussion, it was interesting in that, intentionally or not, the works did not blend into the background, but rather created room for a reinterpretation of Versailles itself as part of the exhibition. The palace, which had long been viewed as a symbol of beauty, was given a perspective on "power and the circulation of images" through works that appeared nonsensical and even "vulgar." The audience was forced to step back from a merely reverent gaze toward heritage and be confronted, with a certain absurdity, with the palace as a stage for displaying royal power, and the fact that beauty and authority are merely constructed within the social fabric.In contrast, "Forget Me Not" left the impression that the 400-year-old architecture, including its period of German occupation during the war, was merely treated as a "historic building." While the exhibition was highly decorative and eye-catching, the various references were explanatory, leaving little room for the viewer's imagination.
At the same time, it also raised the question of how to create a sense of tension between historical architecture and contemporary art. Of course, it doesn't have to be a critical space that calls into question the very meaning of architecture's existence. However, perhaps it is precisely because we are using a space with such a long history that there is room to deepen the relationship between the artwork and the architecture.
A profound art experience born from "questions" and "white space"
Giving the audience "questions" and "space" rather than "explanations" is what gives the art experience depth. This is why exhibition design and spatial contextualization have been receiving renewed attention in recent years.Curators, who weave the meaning and context of the works, and exhibition designers, who translate their concepts into experiences, play a major role in shaping an exhibition. While white cubes with white walls and uniform lighting were once the norm, exhibition spaces have undergone significant change over the past decade. With conceptual works set in historical buildings, installations that utilize ingenious wall colors and lighting, and interactive presentations incorporating digital technology, exhibitions have evolved from "places to see" to "places to experience."Cécile Degos, a set designer who has worked on exhibitions at venues such as Gagosian and the Royal Academy of Arts, is one who has experienced this change firsthand. She says, "The use of color on walls is now open to discussion even in modern and contemporary exhibitions, and the art world as a whole has become more open," and defines her role as "arranging things so that the viewer feels comfortable and can naturally sense the relationships between the works." She has paid careful attention to traffic flow, proportions, colors, and perspective, and has also been able to harmonize with architectural spaces that sometimes have strong personalities.
"It's important to create a memorable space, even if it's not flashy. It will be a success if the image of 'that exhibition space' remains in the audience's mind," says Degos. She is currently in charge of the stage design for an exhibition to be held in Tokyo in 2026, and attention is focused on what kind of experience her perspective will bring to Japanese audiences.
Listen carefully to the space and architecture and enjoy art deeply
When visiting a museum or gallery, we tend to be captivated by the artwork itself. However, if you pay attention to where the artwork is placed and the space it creates, the experience becomes much richer. Listening carefully to the context of the exhibition space and architecture may be just the trick to enjoying art more deeply.
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