At the heart of the exhibition is Before Time Appeared, an immersive sculptural installation inviting visitors to walk barefoot into a multisensory experience. The trunk of the sculpture is filled with dried leaves, turmeric, cumin, and white paper derived from trees, evoking life's interconnectedness through scent and touch. Suspended under the iconic glass ceiling of Le Bon Marché, a 28-meter-long crochet serpent, supported by bamboo arches, winds through the space. Neto describes the installation as an opportunity for visitors to connect deeply with their senses, noting, 'I want to remind people that they have a body—that they can feel it. Scents activate memory and help us reconnect with our own essence.'
The title Le La Serpent reflects Ernesto Neto's intention to challenge gender norms and celebrate feminine origins. In Portuguese, the word for serpent is feminine, which the artist aligns with Eve's pivotal role in the Genesis story. By combining the French articles 'le' and 'la', Neto alludes to the union of Adam and Eve, positioning the serpent as a divine figure transcending gender—a bearer of life and wisdom.
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