Bouchra Khalili, a very thoughtful photographer

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The Mapping journey project is told by the migrant in his own language

Bouchra Khalili is an adventurous photographer and video artist and it is worth spending a long time watching the six series of videos and many more photographies of this fascinating show at Musée du Jeu de Paume. For the Moroccan born French artist has spent time around the world meeting with Filipinos, Africans, Americans, Greeks, Cubans, travelers of all kinds, and drawing a human map of immigrants who tell their story in 25 languages and dialects. She is beautiful and sophisticated, yet there is nothing fragile about her.Read More

Château d’Eu, a beautiful royal decor

parisdiaArchitecture, Art, Furniture

The château d’Eu is two hours from Paris, in Normandy between Dieppe and Abbeville

I had been wanting to visit Eu, a little town in Northern Normandy, where the castle hosted the d’Orléans family and lately the Comtesse de Paris and Les Amis du Musée Condé in Chantilly easily convinced me to join them. Partly restored by Duc d’Aumale, the wonderful collector and owner of Chantilly, it belonged to the Brazilian branch of Orléans Bragance and is now a municipal museum. King Louis Philippe used it as a summer residence away from the politics of Paris and received Queen Victoria there twice. Its decoration which we owe to Pierre François Fontaine and architect Eugène Viollet le Duc is a perfect example of 19 th century style. And the furniture lent by the Mobilier National is royal. With a great lunch at La Villa Marine in Le Tréport, the visit was a huge success.Read More

Moses Farrow speaks out

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“I’m a very private person and not at all interested in public attention. But, given the incredibly inaccurate and misleading attacks on my father, Woody Allen, I feel that I can no longer stay silent as he continues to be condemned for a crime he did not commit.

I was present for everything that transpired in our house before, during, and after the alleged event. Now that the public hysteria of earlier this year has died down a little and I have some hope that the truth can get a fair hearing, I want to share my story.”Read More

Zao Wou-Ki in silence and in full splendor

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03.12.74, 1974, Centre National des Arts Plastiques

The new exhibition of Zao Wou Ki‘s work at Musée d’Art Moderne, “Space is silence”,  is as striking by its large format as it is by its colors. The new space along the Seine where the works are shown, is very bright and the triptychs of the master attract many quiet visitors who sit for hours watching his enigmatic landscapes. After Daniel Marchesseau‘s exhibition at Fondation Pierre Gianadda two years ago, it is a very unique occasion to see large canvases by the French/Chinese master (1921-2013),  some of which are still kept in private hands.Read More

The American dream in prints

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Gert Luijten, director of Custodia and Elizabeth Glassman, President and CEO of the Terra Foundation

The summer exhibition at Fondation Custodia, is devoted to “The American Dream, pop to the present”, a jolly collection of prints lent by the British Museum and cosponsored by the Terra Foundation. For those of us who actually lived through these fabulous years when Jim Dine and Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol and Roy Liechstenstein changed the course of art, the show of 100 prints is a wonderful reminiscence. It reminded me of the first pop art posters I bought at 15.  And if you register, you can visit the Hotel Partiuclier of the Custodia foundation which is open once a month on Saturdays. It is magical!Read More

Versailles is extending on Marie Antoinette’s territory

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The Queen’s bedroom at the Hameau

There is not a week without a new event at Versailles and the opening of the Queen’s hamlet, newly restored is major news. At the same time, a new prize for historical books is created and given to a biography of Camille and Lucile Desmoulins by Hervé Leuwers (Fayard). From Revolution to restorations, the old palace is constantly on the move. In September it will be hosting dinners and receptions every night fo the Ryder Cup. Golf National, where the major golf tournament is taking place, has a private gate to the Park of Versailles on hole n°14! and all the players will be staying at the Trianon Palace hotel.Read More

Kent Monkman inaugurates Canada’s cultural center

parisdiaArt, Happy moments

Kent Monkman, Stag Hunting, after Theodore de Bry, 2018

The inauguration of Canada’s new cultural center in Paris, within the Embassy which recently moved from avenue Montaigne to 130 Faubourg Saint Honoré, was a great evening full of surprises. Kent Monkman, the successful painter could not have been more charming and his huge painting “Miss Chief’s wet dream” a parody of  the “Raft of the Medusa”, was made especially for the large space. Ambassador Isabelle Hudon , who recently arrived in Paris, was beaming with joy. And the whole evening had a relaxed atmosphere thanks to deputy minister Graeme Clark, who made sure to introduce everyone to the artist.Read More

Latin American jewelry and French scents

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Le 38 is a pretty boutique which sells Quintessence candles and  Latin American jewelry and fashion

There is something particularly exciting about discovering a new shop especially if it is managed by an old friend’s daughter. Inès Olaechea is half Peruvian half French and with her partner, Amaya Ducru, who is half Mexican, they started 85° Paris, a company which imports Latin American jewelry and fashion. I was totally charmed by Mercedes Salazar’s earrings in straw which are made in Colombia and are perfect for the summer.Read More