Anish Kapoor's "Leviathan" triumphs in Paris

Renowned British sculptor Anish Kapoor's gigantic artwork "Leviathan" on exhibit in a Paris museum until this week attracted 277,687 visitors, organisers said Saturday. The number of visitors to see the spacious artwork made from inflated plastic in the cavernous nave of the Grand Palais museum was 85 percent higher than a previous exhibit by French artist Christian Boltanski, they said. The average daily number of visitors to cultural events organised by the museum is around 7,000. Kapoor had dedicated "Leviathan" to Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei who was detained by authorities since April before being released on bail Wednesday. The 80,000 cubic-meter, dark red "Leviathan" refers to a sea monster referred to the Bible. Visitors are invited to discover the work from the inside out. On exhibit for 40 days until last Thursday, the artwork has been dismantled and is now expected to return to London.