- Title: Koons unveils giant 'Bouquet of Tulips' tribute to victims of 2015 Paris attacks
- Date: 4th October 2019
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (FILE - NOVEMBER 14, 2015) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF POLICE DURING ASSAULT AT BATACLAN CONCERT HALL, EXPLOSIONS AND GUNSHOTS HEARD VARIOUS OF INJURED BEING CARRIED OUT OF CONCERT HALL PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE CONCERT HALL/ OTHERS RUNNING SURVIVORS WALKING OUTSIDE IN THERMAL BLANKETS WITH FIRE TRUCKS IN BACKGROUND SPECIAL POLICE FORCE WEARING BLACK MASKS AND WALKING WITH GUNS PARIS, FRANCE (FILE - NOVEMBER 15, 2015) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERED AT PLACE DE LA REPUBLIQUE WITH FLOWERS AND CANDLES LIT CANDLES PEOPLE GATHERED AROUND FLOWERS AND CANDLES MAN CRYING AND BEING CONSOLED BY FRIEND PARIS, FRANCE (FILE - NOVEMBER 14, 2015) (REUTERS) LE CARILLON RESTAURANT, THE SITE OF ONE OF SHOOTINGS / FLOWERS AND CANDLES AT SCENE BULLET HOLE IN GLASS PARIS, FRANCE (FILE - NOVEMBER 16, 2015) (REUTERS) PEOPLE OBSERVING MINUTE'S SILENCE OUTSIDE THE CARILLON RESTAURANT
- Embargoed: 18th October 2019 14:10
- Keywords: Jeff Koons American artist Bataclan attack Bouquet of Tulips November 13 Paris attacks Paris bars Islamist attacks Islamic State
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Art,Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA002AZOLPHJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: American artist Jeff Koons unveiled in Paris on Friday (October 4) his sculpture Bouquet of Tulips, a tribute to the victims of militant Islamist attacks in the French capital in November 2015.
The 12-meter (40 ft) high piece depicts a giant hand squeezing a bouquet of eleven colourful tulips, a flower that in some cultures symbolises love.
Koons said he created the Bouquet of Tulips to show Americans' support and solidarity for the French people after the attacks in which a total of 130 people were killed.
"I did, as a citizen in New York, experience 9/11 and the depression that hung over the city. It really took years for the city to be able to come to life again", Koons told reporters.
Koons said that 80% of the proceeds from selling the copyright of the artwork will go to the victims' families. The remaining 20% will be dedicated to its maintenance.
The inauguration of the artwork comes after years of dispute. The original venue for the work, near Paris landmark the Palais de Tokyo, was abandoned after officials decided it interrupted views of the Eiffel Tower, French media reported.
The venue finally chosen is near the Petit Palais, an art museum in central Paris.
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