Erro, Portrait of Pierre Boulez, 1984-1986

Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris is an interesting spot. It always has many exhibitions going on at the same time besides its permanent collection, mostly devoted to the Mediterranean and Arab world. At the moment, the works of the Barjeel art foundation did not make a lasting impression on me but on the other side of the building, the collection of the future Palestine Contemporary art museum intrigued me.

Henri Cartier-Bresson, Paris, Galerie Maeght, Alberto Giacometti, 1961

A number of French artists met with members of the team of the Modern and contemporary art Museum of Palestine which is based in Paris and gave their works to this project. The show is surprising and very varied because the only common link between the artists is that they live in Paris and want to share their work with Palestine.

Titouan Lamazou, Amney, 2005, gouache on paper

I was happy to find six serigraphies by Julio Le Parc, which I had recently seen at the Perez museum in Miami: « The long March of the Palestinian people » is a happy piece. Henri Cartier Bresson and his wife Martine Frank both contributed with beautiful black and white pictures, Titouan Lamazou sent a large gouache, Erro and Fromanger both gave great paintings as did Jean Le Gac with his “Chasse au Trésor”.

Gérard Fromanger, Que pensez vous de la situation?, 2009

Under Jack Lang’s presidency, the collection is housed at IMA until the Museum is built. Do go by if you are in the area, it is a lively place with a good Lebanese restaurant. (until April 28)