Paris Diary by Laure

Pierre-Alexis Dumas a new President for Musée des Arts Décoratifs

parisdia18 December 2015Happy momentsLeave a Comment

Pierre ALexis Dumas, a hong president with a brilliant heritage

Pierre Alexis Dumas, a young president with a brilliant heritage

A younger President is taking over Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the very special museum dedicated to decorative arts, housed in the Louvre on the Rivoli side, which also includes a museum of fashion.
Pierre-Alexis Dumas, looks so much like his father Jean-Louis Dumas, whom everyone loved and still misses in Paris, that it is moving to see him taking the reins of an institution, run with energy for 18 years by Hélène David-Weil, and for a two year transition by banker Bruno Roger.Read More

Anselm Kiefer at his best…

parisdia17 December 2015ArtLeave a Comment

Heroisches Sinnbild III, 1970-71, a self portrait wearing his father’s army boots

I ran into a friend who had seen the exhibition at the pre-pre-opening and told me « it’s very dark, very pessimistic »… Well I am glad I did not listen to her. The Anselm Kiefer retrospective at Centre Pompidou is one of the most powerful, luminous and exciting event that happened this year in Paris. And you have until April 18 th to run and see it.

Saint Denis, the Basilica, in a lovely book

parisdia16 December 2015Books1 Comment

Royal tombs at St Denis, © Photo Pascal Lemaître

The cathedral of Saint Denis is mostly a house for French kings to rest in peace. Few people think of visiting this first example of gothic art built on the spot where King Dagobert was buried in 639, even though it is only a twenty minute metro ride from the Madeleine. In June, its sacred music festival is a must. But if you are not in Paris or just feeling lazy, there is now a definitive 500 pages book on the basilica. And the 600 pictures of the church, restored in 2015, will give you a much better idea of its originality. Less far than driving to Chartres and historically fascinating.

Catherine de Medicis, © Photo Pascal Lemaître

Baccarat is upgrading

parisdia16 December 2015Happy momentsLeave a Comment

Inside the new Saint Honoré shop, photo Laurent Parrault

When the Baccarat flagship store was located, Place de la Madeleine, my house guests used to bring me presents from the shop and it was very nice… But, yet another luxury hotel, is being built on the site and Starwood capital, who owns the crystal company, had to close the store.
Only to reopen five minutes away, in an even better location, across the street from the Bristol, the now famous « Midnight in Paris » hang out. So I rushed on opening day to check it out for you…Read More

Hunting, shooting, giving

parisdia10 December 2015FashionLeave a Comment

Hand painted mugs with foxes or hare at 50€

Hand painted mugs hand painted with foxes or hare at 50€ are irresistible

Colorful boots and shooting chairs

Last minute shopping for Christmas, can be done at Artumès, on Faubroug Saint Honoré, where tweeds, cachemire scarves and cute mugs mix in a very luxurious shop. Opened by the Drach, Father and sons, it has become the classical men’s store for soft Portugese woolen jackets, Scottish socks, hand painted china with shooting themes and fun cocktail parties all year round. A new range of bags and boots can be THE present that you have never seen elsewhere for the friend who has everything!!!Read More

Zao Wou-Ki, master of light

parisdia9 December 2015Art1 Comment

Hommage a Varèse, 1964, photo Dennis Bouchard

Hommage à Varèse, 1964, photo Dennis Bouchard

Everytime I go to Fondation Pierre Gianadda in Martigny (Switzerland), I undergo the same choc. The very powerful museum opened by Léonard Gianadda 37 years ago, appears against the mountains in its brutal concrete form. And once inside, I am mesmerized by the art seen from the balcony, in this huge private exhibition space. This time was no exception. After a five hour train trip from Paris, we arrived and literally dove into the Zao Wou-Ki show, taken around at high speed, by curator Daniel Marchesseau, who not only knew the artist very well, but has also been a faithful curator here, for more than twenty years.
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L’Alcazar (once more) revisited

parisdia9 December 2015Restaurants & Hotels1 Comment

A tropical forest for the "balcon" where you can have tapas and small meals

A tropical forest hangs from the balcony where you can have tapas and small meals in front of early nude pictures of Madonna, by Martin H.M. Schreiber

L’Alcazar used to be a naughty cabaret where Jean-Marie Rivière created humorous and chic transvestite shows in 1968 until his death in 1996. I remember going there when I was 17, and loving the transgression and quality of the singers. In 1998, Sir Terence Conran, then at the hight of his Habitat and Conran fame, transformed the spot into a posh black and white and fairly cold brasserie. This week, with the same team as in the 90’s, manager Michel Besmond and Fabrice Gilberdy, Alcazar reopens with a completely different decor, created by Laura Gonzalez, the charming it-architect of the time.

Le Corbusier offers Anish Kapoor his redemption

parisdia6 December 2015Art2 Comments

Le Corbusier's couvent de La Tourette was built for the Dominicans in

Le Corbusier’s Couvent de La Tourette was built for Dominicans in 1960

After his sad adventures in Versailles this fall, Anish Kapoor needed some respite. And this is what Couvent de La Tourette in Burgundy, is offering him until January 4th. The Dominican convent, built by Le Corbusier (who died 50 years ago) is a fascinating stage for Kapoor’s sculptures and paintings. Built at the same time as the architect’s other project of Chandigarth, it is made of concrete, with linear windows designed by music composer Xenakis. It lies thirty minutes from Lyon in a beautiful countryside and is home to twelve monks from the Dominican order founded 900 years ago.