His great grandfather, Vittorio Ducrot was a foremost art nouveau furniture designer in Palermo. His mother is a forceful painter and textile designer, his grand father was an engineer and he used to play around in his workshop when he was little. But Giuseppe Ducrot has definitely found his own artistic track and the ceramics he exhibits at Galerie du Passage, … Read More
Neandertal, ancestors we can be proud of!
I first heard the curator of the show, Marylène Patou-Mathis on France culture radio station one morning and she sounded so fascinating on the topic of the Neandertal people that I rushed to see the show at Musée de l’Homme. This specialist of the era, is adamant at defending the humanity of these people too often considered as primitive and … Read More
A very festive Suez Canal at Institut du Monde Arabe
Théodore Frère, Promenade de l’Impératrice Eugénie en chameau dans le désert, 1869 © Souvenir de Ferdinand de Lesseps et du Canal de Suez / Lebas Photographie Paris When you enter the first room of the exhibition “L’Epoque du Canal de Suez des pharaons au XXI ème siècle” at IMA, the red velvet curtain, the large screens with photographs commented by … Read More
Simone Pheulpin sculpts with folded cotton
It was a magical surprise to discover in a fairly unknown monument of the 8 th arrondissement, la Chapelle Expiatoire, a genius sculptor who uses folded cotton strips to create the most extraordinary works. When I entered the round chapel, I first thought I was seeing ceramic or light stone sculptures. The work and patience involved in folding kms of … Read More
“Intelligence of the Hand” awards, by Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
It was the first time the Prix Liliane Bettencourt was awarded since the l’Oréal heiress disappeared a few weeks ago and her daughter, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers spoke courageously of the beauty of handmade technics and of the love her mother had for artisanal talents. The ceremony took place at salle Wagram and its 100 th Prize was awarded after 18 … Read More
The colors of Sèvres
It is always a little adventure to go to Musée de la Céramique de Sèvres just on the other side of the Seine from Boulogne. The 18 th century museum is a paradise for china, ceramics and plates of all kinds and to enliven the public’s appetite, the director of collections and curator of the show, Christine Germain-Donnat, has organised … Read More
Cars are stars at Fondation Cartier
It was great fun as usual at Fondation Cartier for the opening of « Auto Photo, from 1900 to today » a show of 450 pictures by American, British, German, Swiss, Japanese, Mexican, Chinese, African and French photographers who, one way or another, were attracted by cars. Small and large formats, color and black and white, esthetical or social themes make for … Read More
Gouthière, Odiot, Mézin at Arts Décoratifs
There is a decorative art that survived the French revolution and was as prolific under Louis XVI th as under Napoleon and that is the art of bronzier and gold sculptor. Pierre Gouthière, 1732-1813, was the most famous of 18 th century artists and a show of his work is at Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris after the Frick … Read More