Arcs de cercles complémentaires

Arcs de cercles complémentaires is a marble sculpture made from Carrara stone with curved geometric forms that change their visual impact depending on the light and viewing angle. The work consists of several arcs at different heights and positions that together create a visual system where each curve complements the others.

François Morellet created this sculpture in 1999 as a contemporary artwork within the classical setting of the Tuileries Garden. The installation represented a new approach to presenting modern art in a historically significant space.

The work demonstrates Morellet's belief that art can emerge from mathematical systems and ordered arrangements in public space. Visitors walking around it notice how the geometric precision shapes their experience of the garden differently than traditional sculptures would.

The sculpture is located in the open garden area and is accessible daily during Tuileries Garden hours. The best way to experience it is to walk around the work and view it from multiple angles to understand how the curves change their appearance.

The arcs are arranged so they present different visual effects depending on the time of day and sun position, constantly revealing new perspectives. Visitors often discover unexpectedly that the shadows cast by the forms are as integral to the work as the marble shapes themselves.