Lee Ufan, Relatum Dwelling,(2), 2018, slate

The show discreetly opened on Bastille day and is closing on August 21! Fukami, “a plunge into Japanese aesthetics” could not have been more discreet and I heard about it on France Culture radio one morning. If you miss it, don’t worry, but if you are in Paris you’ll notice that while all the streets are empty, the beautiful Hôtel particulier which used to belong to the great art collector Adèle de Rothschild, is attracting idle families and “aoûtiens” as we call the people who stay in town in August. There are two installations that are worth the trip, Korean artist Lee Ufan who spent most of his life in Japan and used slate in the main living room and Kohei Nawa who sculpts foam.

Kohei Nawa, Foam, 2018

The hotel was built at the height of the Rothschild’s fame and wealth in Paris, between 1872 and 1878 by Leon Ohnet. It is reminiscent of Hotel de Marigny, Hotel du Cercle Interallié, Hotel de l’Elysée, which all belonged to the Rothschilds and are all in the 8 th arrondissement. French President Paul Doumer was assassinated there while visiting an exhibition on May 6, 1932.

To visit an show of contemporary Japanese art in these premises adds to the attraction. I loved seeing the garden through the high French windows and looking at the large round painted carpet by Shinji Ohmaki from the top of the stairs with the fabulous fireplace facing it.

Shinji Ohmaki, Echoes Infinity, 2018, pigments, felt, carpet

But I am not sure about showing Hokusai prints (which are much better seen at Musée Guimet)  nor Sugimoto photographs, which are part of every art fair or modern art museum,  in this “Plunge into Japanese Aesthetics”?  The foam sculpture by Kohei Nawa in the lower part is very cool, lit in ultra violet lights and you can sit down and meditate. It is quite an experience! He has another piece in gold under the Pyramid of the Louvre…

The Lee Ufan installation of slates is very beautiful also. So do stop by if you have time at “Fukami“, 11 rue Berryer every day until the 21st! and more “Japonisms” will take place this fall in the capital.