Eleven colorful tulips reach for the Parisian sky. This is the Bouquet of Tulips. It stands outside the Petit Palais. The American artist Jeff Koons created this metal sculpture. It is one of his largest works. It’s also his first commemorative piece. The Bouquet of Tulips was unveiled in October 2019.
The 11-meter-tall sculpture depicts a hand clutching stylized flowers. It is modeled on the Statue of Liberty. The sculpture is made of bronze, aluminum, and stainless steel. The Bouquet of Tulips honors the victims of the November 2015 attacks.
The bouquet features 11 flowers. Not a dozen. The missing 12th represents the victims. Koons announced in 2019 where the money goes. 80% of the proceeds will go to the victims’ families. This comes from selling the artwork’s copyright. The remaining 20% will be for maintenance.
The U.S. Ambassador to France asked Koons to create a tribute. This was after the 2015 and 2016 terrorist attacks in France. The ambassador discussed the idea with Jerry Speyer. He was chairman of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Speyer is a collector of Koons’ work.
The sculpture was made in Germany. Production and installation cost 3.5 million euros. A nonprofit foundation raised the money from private donations. Donors included Bernard Arnault and others. Koons added $1 million of his own money. Delays led to increased production costs.
The city proposed several sites to Koons. He chose the plaza in front of the Palais de Tokyo. It had symbolic value. The plaza wasn’t restricted by historic preservation rules. But the pavement wasn’t strong enough. It couldn’t support the 34-ton sculpture and its 27-ton base. Some people criticized the site. They said it had no connection to the attacks.
23 French artists, politicians, and cultural figures asked for the plan to be abandoned. They argued the gift was opportunistic and cynical. Another open letter defended Koons’ sculpture. The plan to place it in front of the Palais de Tokyo was dropped.
Another proposal suggested Parc de la Villette. City planners rejected this idea. The Place des États-Unis was also considered. Finally, they chose the current venue. It is between Place de la Concorde and the Petit Palais. It is near the U.S. Embassy.
Some see earpods or deflated marshmallows. Others see the Statue of Liberty’s torch. The Bouquet of Tulips is more than just a sculpture. It is a symbol of remembrance. It represents resilience. It is a tribute to those who were lost. It’s a conversation piece. It makes us reflect on the events that shaped our present.