Works on paper, David Lynch

In March 2007, the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain presented the exhibition, The Air is on Fire. For the first time, it unveiled a vast collection of artwork dating from the 1960s by the renowned American director, David Lynch, to the general public.

In addition to numerous paintings and photographs, many of the artist’s drawings, sketches, and notes spanning a period of forty years were presented. The Fondation Cartier wished to bring together this collection of more than 500 drawings in an exceptional book.

Using all types of media, from Post-it Notes to paper napkins, the diversity and complementary nature of these drawings allow us to dive into David Lynch’s artistic universe and establish links between his plastic work and his films.

Almost stream-of-conscious in their form, these images are occasionally accompanied by notes which describe ideas or tell stories. Like tiny bridges linking the different facets of his multidisciplinary practice, they are also a means for the artist to explore certain concepts or feelings, highlighting the main ideas that run throughout his work.