The majestic XIV th century fireplaces of la Conciergerie, the prison where Marie Antoinette was kept prisoner during the Revolution, could not have been better adapted to show El Anatsui‘s metallic sculptures. The Ghanean artist who is present in all contemporary art fairs, uses discarded bottle tops and aluminum objects to create vast shiny curtains. I have always been fascinated … Read More
Hyacinthe Rigaud in Versailles, don’t miss it!
This is probably the most gorgeous exhibition of the moment: it has been “unopened” for four months and closes on June 13. So if you have time to go to Versailles, do not miss this show of 150 portraits (mostly men) by Louis XIV th’ painter Hyacinthe Rigaud (1659-1743). With a set designed by Pier Luigi Pizzi, it is the first retrospective … Read More
Leonardo Drew is strong at Galerie Lelong
At 60, Leonardo Drew is now very famous in America but I had never seen any of his works and it was quite mesmerizing to discover, on a rainy morning, his wood sculptures at Galerie Lelong (until July 13). The power which emanates from his pieces is fantastic. Born in Tallahassee, Florida, and raised in the projects in Bridgeport, Ct, with … Read More
Napoléon in full majesty at la Villette
With la Grande Halle de la Villette, a gigantic cultural space set in the former meat market, in the North of Paris, Emperor Napoléon has found a perfect celebration spot two hundred years after he died on the island of Sainte Hélène 2 600 kms west of Angola… The exhibition which is just opening there instead of at the Grand … Read More
Musée Carnavalet has great surprises after a four year renovation.
Musée Carnavalet has been closed for four years but it was worth waiting and spending 58 million € under the supervision of Chatillon architects. Nathalie Crinière was in charge of the museography. Valérie Guillaume, its director since 2013, introduced our visit with a very politically correct speech on the importance of caring to young visitors and on the increase of exhibition … Read More
In Rambouillet, antiques make a come back with Gabriel Wick
Château de Rambouillet is not the most interesting building in the world but this new exhibition, “Vivre à l’Antique“, curated by Gabriel Wick and Renaud Serrette, makes us discover fantastic wood panelings and la Laiterie, a building conceived by Louis XVI with painter Hubert Robert to lure Marie Antoinette into this hunting lodge which the king loved particularly of its … Read More
At Galerie Maria Lund, Lyndi Sales lands from South Africa
Born in 1973, in Johannesburg, Lyndi Sales has become in the last twenty years, one of South Africa’s most prominent artist. She represented her country at the Venice Biennale in 2011 and this is her fourth exhibition at Galerie Maria Lund, “On being” (until June 19). From her studio in Cape Town, she is searching for an elsewhere and is … Read More
In Deauville, a spectacular new cultural space
I happened to be in Deauville, the Normandy seaside resort which could be compared to Easthampton, for a golf tournament, when I heard that Les Franciscaines, a new cultural space set in an old Franciscan convent was opening the very same day. What a wonderful coincidence. This turn of the century resort which is now very, very busy with weekenders … Read More