« Light is a fluid, silent, pure and intangible substance that can transform life and open the soul to positive emotion, » contends Thierry Dreyfus. Best known for his work in the fashion world, Dreyfus has created lighting and sets for designers such as Helmut Lang (whose trademark light is in fact a « non light ») and Hedi Slimane (with whom he collaborated on a ceiling of crystal tears for the Dior Homme Spring 2002 show). He was recently commissioned by the Caisse des Depots et Consignations in Paris to light its building on the Quai Anatole France. (The bank’s other building was lit by artist James Turrell.) While artists have struggled for centuries to capture the otherworldly light of Paris in paintings and photographs, Dreyfus ‘s neon-tube installation breaks it down to a simple formula : a mix of lavender , light amber, light pink, clear blue, and powder. The piece resides in an open courtyard along with a large sculpture by Jean Dubuffet.
At night, light creeps through the gates onto the street, as if the sun itself has been captured behind bars.