There is a double attraction in visiting Institut du Monde arabe’s garden exhibition, « Jardins d’Orient, de l’Alhambra au Taj Mahal ». Since Jack Lang was named President a few years ago, it seems that this institution, created in 1987 by François Mitterrand, has taken on a new modernity. And what is happening in the arab world today, is drawing more … Read More
Charles Gleyre, a Swiss painter who taught Renoir and Sisley
With 120 paintings and many drawings, the exhibition at Musée d’Orsay, on Charles Gleyre, « The reformed Romantic », puts into light the work of a great adventurer who followed American Philanthropist John Lowell Jr, all the way to Khartoum after having studied watercolor with Bonington. He ran for 25 years, an atelier in Paris, where Renoir, Monet and Sisley studied as … Read More
Sotogrande, a (very private) golf course
I had heard so much about the course from my golfing friends that entering the world of Sotogrande, in southern Spain, was like seeing the Eiffel tower for the first time for an American child. Not only was I not disppointed, I fell under the charm immediately.
Musée du quai Branly Jacques Chirac turns 10
When it was inaugurated ten years ago, Musée du quai Branly was quite controversial. Its collections of African and Latin American art were primarily taken from Musée de l’Homme at the Trocadéro, many pieces of art were bought from or by Jacques Kerchache, a dealer close to Jacques Chirac and Jean Nouvel‘s architecture was not unanymously loved. Today, the Museum, … Read More
“Ceramix” in Sèvres and at La Maison rouge
It is a very original project that Antonie de Galbert founder of La Maison Rouge conceived with the Museum of Ceramics in Sèvres and the Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht. To exhibit modern and contemporary ceramic sculptures made by famous artists. Ceramics or china as people call it everyday, is mostly used for plates and tea pots. But in 300 … Read More
Mima, a museum in Molenbeek
Opening a private museum of contemporary art in Molenbeek, three weeks after the terrorist attacks in Brussels, is pretty daring, and Alice van den Abeele, the director, and Michel de Launoit the owner, could not contain their joy after the first day ; 2 500 visitors had been curious enough to come to MIMA (Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art) on … Read More
La Roche Guyon, a remarkable vegetable garden
After seeing the amazing « Impressionist’s gardens » at the Royal Academy in London, last month, I have become curious of all garden exhibitions in Normandy and therefore went straight to the « Caillebotte, painter and gardner » show at Giverny’s Musée des Impressionistes (until July 3rd).
Eva Jospin, a forest in the Louvre
For once, I was happy to have missed the opening of the show. Not only because my spies told me it was packed and the cardboard forest “Panorama” created by Eva Jospin at the Louvre was hard to see. But mostly because when I went this morning, I was greeted by my name by the most ravishing creature, a young … Read More