PARLEY x UTÖPIA ARTIST FLAGS: JULIO LE PARC
We teamed up with Utöpia and renowned contemporary artist Julio Le Parc to create a limited edition artist flag in support of the movement
This image courtesy of Julio Le Parc ©. Header image — Installation View of Julio Le Parc: Color and Colors at Perrotin New York, 2020. Photographer: Guillaume Ziccarelli.
© Julio Le Parc / ADAGP, Paris & ARS, New York 2020. Courtesy of the artist and Perrotin.
Franco-Argentinian artist Julio Le Parc, a pioneer in “op” and kinetic art, has created an artist flag for Parley x Utöpia in support of the movement to protect the oceans and end the global plastic crisis. The Parley x Utöpia Ocean Plastic® artist flag series forms part of an ongoing collaboration with world-renowned contemporary artists. The series will be continued by Jeppe Hein and Doug Aitken.
Permutation de la Longue Marche n°1, 2020. Acrylic on canvas. 200 x 200 cm | 78 3/4 x 78 3/4 in. Photographer: Guillaume Ziccarelli.
© Julio Le Parc / ADAGP, Paris & ARS, New York 2020. Courtesy of the artist and Perrotin.
Série 18 n°7, 1971. Collage on cardboard. 53 x 53 cm | 20 7/8 x 20 7/8 in. Photographer: Guillaume Ziccarelli.
© Julio Le Parc / ADAGP, Paris & ARS, New York 2020. Courtesy of the artist and Perrotin.
Série 23 N°14-11, 1970-2012. Acrylic on canvas. 200 x 200 cm | 78 3/4 x 78 3/4 in. Photographer: Guillaume Ziccarelli.
© Julio Le Parc / ADAGP, Paris & ARS, New York 2020. Courtesy of the artist and Perrotin.
“I have five grandchildren, and soon also great-grandchildren. For them and for humanity, the Earth will not be the Earth anymore without the oceans.”
Julio Le Parc, November 2020
Starting in the 1960s, Le Parc underwent a radical break from traditional art, away from static pictorial work and towards dynamism and constant change. His kinetic installations change the space and permanently recreate it, immersing the viewer fully in the artwork.
Cheerfully, Le Parc lifts us into a shimmering, hopping and swinging universal kaleidoscope, whose grace and beauty overwhelms us and hardly lets us go. The profoundly humane and equally political aspect of his art lies in its rigorous denial of any claim to absoluteness. It can be seen as anti-authoritarian and democratic – an art of mutual respect.
As one of the oldest forms of mass media in the world, the flag nowadays occupies a renewed place in public space. This is increasingly true in virtual public and online social networks. As a new media, it invites us to raise our heads to the sky. The flags of artists have become vectors of communication.
Our collection of artist flags combines statements of resistance against the destruction of the oceans and climate change. Every minute the equivalent of one garbage truck of plastic is dumped into our oceans, interrupting the most important ecosystem on our planet and directly threatening the survival of many species of sea life as well as humanity. The purchase of a flag supports the initiatives of the Parley Ocean Plastic Program and Global Cleanup Network.
With dedicated coordinators and volunteers making an impact in over 28 countries, the Parley Global Cleanup Network works to protect marine environments from plastic pollution and other threats. Through collaborative cleanups with local businesses and organizations, teams intercept plastic waste from beaches, remote islands, rivers, mangroves and coastal communities. Local education, awareness campaigns and government engagement help to drive lasting change.
Image by Agustin de la Parra
Parley Ocean Plastic®
This image is courtesy of Julio Le Parc
Q&A
Parley founder Cyrill Gutsch sat down with Julio Le Parc to discuss the ideation of the flag and what’s ahead
Waves, in numerous forms, have always held a significant place within your artistic practice. Can you tell us a bit about what makes this specific form fascinating for your artistic work?
Waves, on the surface, suggest continual movement, which is a leitmotif in my work.
What has inspired you to choose the motif of a rainbow wave for your flag for Parley for the Oceans and Utöpia?
My practice is premised on a series of research that utilizes a 14 color range. Among these works, one set is titled Waves. Waves = Ocean = Movement = Origin of life = Future. The rainbow = Committed Hope
Do you have any personal relation to the Oceans? Is there a favorite memory of the oceans from childhood?
I was born 100km away from the ocean in Mendoza, Argentina, right at the foot of the Andes mountains. As a preteen, I consistently found myself turning my back to this gigantic mountain, and instead looking towards the east and dreaming about the ocean.
You became involved in collective projects, with other artists or with anti-fascist groups, to engage against oppressive and dictatorial systems. How do you see the idea of duty for engagement today? As not only an artist but as a citizen, specifically when it comes to ecological engagement?
Within my limited capabilities, I will always act for change. I have five grandchildren, and soon many great-grandchildren. For them and for humanity, the Earth will no longer be the Earth that we know without our oceans.
In your experience, are there certain artistic strategies that are more fruitful to express cultural resistance than others?
Always remain standing!
What are you working on next?
My projects to come? First and foremost, I would like to have a little bit more time in my life to work with more freedom in a changing world that doesn’t scare me.
JULIO LE PARC
Franco-Argentinian artist Julio Le Parc (*1928) is a major figure in the realm of kinetic and contemporary art. In 1959, he began to create geometrical abstract paintings based on predetermined systems, and over the years expanded his practice into three dimensions. Introducing movement and light, he pioneered the active involvement of the spectator. Le Parc was a co-founder of the Groupe de Recherche d'Art Visuel in 1960. He was awarded the main painting prize at the 1966 Venice Biennale and has presented his work in numerous art institutions all over the world. As a defender of human rights, he fought against dictatorship in Latin America through numerous collective anti-fascist projects.
Le Parc’s work is currently on view at gallery Perrotin, NYC, until Dec 23.
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