Studio Adrien Gardère

Open to the public since 2003, the Dallas Nasher Sculpture Center is one of the few institutions in the world devoted to the exhibition, study and preservation of modern and contemporary sculpture.

First Sculpture: Handaxe to Figure Stone is the first museum exhibition to present ancient handaxes and prehistoric stones -- traditionally considered as tools -- as works of art.

The Nasher Sculpture Center entrusted Studio Adrien Gardère with the scenography of the exhibition. One hundred objects are presented as evidence of the first forms of artistic intention, highlighting the aesthetic qualities of each stone, showing humankind’s early ability to sculpt beautiful objects.

The scenography, through a game of singular plinths and mounts, underlines the aesthetic qualities of each of these stones while establishing a dialogue with the architecture of the building designed by Renzo Piano.