June 20 through Sun 4 January 2026,
6 p.m.
Grand Palais

Entry with a ticket from the exposition "Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Tinguely, Pontus Hulten"

Creation
Installation

Cyclop / Jean Tinguely & Niki de Saint Phalle

As part of the Centre Pompidou's Constellation program

Cyclop is a monumental sculpture by Jean Tinguely, a colossal head rising from the forest of Milly-la-Forêt in the Essonne region of France. This concrete and metal giant took shape over 25 years, beginning in 1969, through the collaboration of numerous artists—most notably Niki de Saint Phalle. Sound is at the heart of Cyclop, with moving, immersive works that transform the space. Now, at the request of the Centre national des Arts Plastiques (CNAP), which owns the piece, IRCAM has undertaken the task of archiving its sonic world. Using 20 hours of recordings—capturing the groaning gears, clattering metal balls, and resonating rods—an 8-minute imaginary journey through the creature's auditory landscape has been crafted.

Yann Brecy, Luca Bagnoli recording / creation IRCAM
Cyclop - Sonic Premiere 2025

Discover Cyclop, part of the extensive ‘Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Tinguely, Pontus Hulten’ exhibition, co-produced by the Centre Pompidou and the GrandPalaisRmn.

Exhibition curators
Sophie Duplaix, curator, head curator, contemporary collections department, Musée national d'art moderne - Centre Pompidou
Rita Cusimano, associate curator, curatorial attaché, Musée national d'art moderne - Centre Pompidou

Coproduction IRCAM-Centre Pompidou, Centre national des arts plastiques, GrandPalaisRmn.
  • © Niki de Saint Phalle. La Face aux miroirs, 1987 / 1991. FNAC 95419 (7) Centre national des arts plastiques © [2024] Niki Charitable Art Foundation / Adagp, Paris / Cnap. Crédit photo : Marc Domage None
    © Niki de Saint Phalle. La Face aux miroirs, 1987 / 1991. FNAC 95419 (7) Centre national des arts plastiques © [2024] Niki Charitable Art Foundation / Adagp, Paris / Cnap. Crédit photo : Marc Domage