View of the exhibition David Lynch, The Air is on Fire, Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris, 2007. © David Lynch. Picture © Patrick Gries.
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Exhibition overview

The Air is on Fire was born out of David Lynch’s studio full of paintings, cupboards of black archival boxes, and shelves of labeled binders containing countless drawings. This well-preserved collection of his own art dates back to his high school days and, until now, has primarily remained unseen by the public.

Artists and contributors of the exhibition:
  • David Lynch

The exhibition in detail

These works are reassembled here in distinctive environments accompanied by pervading sounds, all conceived by the artist himself—a life-sized recreation of a drawing of a living room, fantastical spaces filled with large-scale curtained structures upon which his paintings are hung, and a mini-movie theatre inspired by Eraserhead. These spaces form a highly personal show that offers the viewer a unique opportunity to interact with a new side of Lynch’s vision in an environment that remains all his own. David Lynch’s paintings, photographs, and drawings reconstruct his childhood experiences, his adolescent fantasies, and his adult preoccupations. The recurring theme of the home, complete with its potentially sinister underbelly, is represented in dark paintings complete with cryptic messages and organic textures. Lynch’s outrageous sense of humor, however, is also present in the difficult issues that his paintings tackle, echoing the cutting comic relief found in even his most disconcerting film work. His photography also captures various moods and atmospheres, from sensual and dreamy to somber and troubling. The exhibition includes a program of events, live performances and concerts created by the artist.

Image gallery

View of the exhibition David Lynch, The Air is on Fire, Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris, 2007

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© David Lynch

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© Patrick Gries

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View of the exhibition David Lynch, The Air is on Fire, Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris, 2007

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© David Lynch

. Picture

© Patrick Gries

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View of the exhibition David Lynch, The Air is on Fire, Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris, 2007

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© David Lynch

. Picture

© Patrick Gries

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View of the exhibition David Lynch, The Air is on Fire, Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris, 2007

.

© David Lynch

. Picture

© Patrick Gries

.

View of the exhibition David Lynch, The Air is on Fire, Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris, 2007

.

© David Lynch

. Picture

© Patrick Gries

.

View of the exhibition David Lynch, The Air is on Fire, Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris, 2007

.

© David Lynch

. Picture

© Patrick Gries

.

View of the exhibition David Lynch, The Air is on Fire, Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris, 2007

.

© David Lynch

. Picture

© Patrick Gries

.

View of the exhibition David Lynch, The Air is on Fire, Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris, 2007

.

© David Lynch

. Picture

© Patrick Gries

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