Luxembourg Art Week will also present the iconic piece The Man Who Measures the Clouds (Monument to the Measurement of the Incommensurable) (2019) by Belgian artist Jan Fabre from November 4 to November 24, 2024, near the fair.
Is man the measure of all things? The title of the sculpture refers to the legendary story of the Birdman of Alcatraz, Robert Stroud, who declared upon his release from prison that he would “measure the clouds” from then on. For the Greeks, man was the unit of measure in the mutual relationship between objects; in a similar way, Fabre’s man stands as the measure of all things, paying tribute to the greatness of human imagination. The monumental size of this bronze (5m) and its golden shine restore magnificence to human endeavor: a man dressed in contemporary clothing stands on a stepladder, arms outstretched toward the sky, holding a ruler with which he attempts to measure objects in the heavens. Jan Fabre offers a monument to the measurement of the incommensurable and challenges the viewer to rethink the meaning of scale. The piece was presented in Venice during the 58th International Art Biennale.
Born in Antwerp in 1958, Jan Fabre is a multidisciplinary Belgian artist known for his work in visual arts, theater, and performance. He gained recognition in the 1980s for his avant-garde performances and innovative theatrical productions.
This installation is made possible thanks to the support of the City of Luxembourg.
