06 Nov 2017
Free-runner and urban explorer take on Gehry’s Guggenheim Bilbao as museum turns 20
BY Alice Davis
Bilbao’s Guggenheim and Google Arts & Culture have released a new film to celebrate 20 years of the museum and its iconic architecture.
The film, Bending Gravity at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, follows a French free-runner and an American urban photographer as they experience the attraction from their unique points of view.
Free-runner Johan Tonnoir, who was given unprecedented access to parts of the museum never seen before, approached the building from a physical perspective, searching the dimensions of the structure for places to perform stunts and tricks. Trashhand, an urban explorer and photographer from Chicago, Illinois, photographed Tonnoir and the hidden places within Frank Gehry’s architecture. Producer Stink Studios and directors David & Douglas created the Bending Gravity film.
In the film, the pair explore the building’s roof, its terraces, its attic spaces and even inside installations. Tonnoir’s biggest jump traverses a distance of 5m (16ft) between two platforms over a 40m (130ft) drop.
“Running and exploring unseen corners of the museum, and being the first to have ever done it, was an incredible experience,” said Tonnoir. “My jump between both towers was my main challenge during this film. From the moment I saw it, it called me.”
Trashhand described his approach to photography. “No matter how long it takes, when I walk through a space I’m constantly looking for that perfect shot – the shot that speaks to me the most and I know will resonate with people the most,” he said. “Finding the symmetry in a place like the Guggenheim is a challenge, a challenge that pushes me to be a better photographer and a better explorer.”
The Guggenheim Bilbao, which has welcomed 20 million visitors to date, turned 20 in October, and a series of special events and exhibitions are taking place to mark the milestone year.
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