Preservation of Life

An unusual sculptural installation ran through six floors of the Centre Pompidou, Paris, during the last two months of 2011.

The iconic motif of condoms was the basis and theme for the installation, aptly titled Preservation of Life. Its creator, Irish artist Bryan McCormack, produced the amusing, thought-provoking project as part of the centre’s annual Aids fundraising campaign.

Constructed on every level of escalators were tunnels of light that changed hue on each floor. Made of 80,000 cylindrical light bulbs, each covered in what appeared to be a glass-like plastic condom. Suddenly a very personal object became very public!

This impressive spectacle was accompanied by an audio track of a heartbeat – which also altered as one ascended and descended – giving the impressive installation its French title Les sons de la vie/Sounds of Life.

Photos courtesy JC Planchet, Centre Pompidou, 2011.