The best views from my window

parisdiaHappy moments12 Comments

Waking up in Montreux, Switzerland, last February

When I look back at the Year 2020, which has been such a disaster for so many people, I find some beautiful images of the marvels of our world which I wanted to share with you for future travels. Not everything was negative, we learned to rediscover little moments of daily life like discussing with the cheese monger or seeing the trees blossom on an everyday basis. We learned to be happy with tiny things like being allowed out one hour a day. I wish you a much happier 2021 with beautiful projects and successes. Read More

Merry Christmas to all of you!

parisdiaHappy moments5 Comments

Poinsettia, THE Christmas flower by excellence

Since we are all spending a lot of time at home at the moment, here is my last recipe of the year provided by Laurence Dumaine Calle who is a very good cook when she is not collecting contemporary art or preparing the Bob Calle Prize she offers every other year for the best artist’s book. It is sorrel soup and is as easy to make as it is delicious to eat. Have a lovely (small) Christmas and cheers to all the good news that await us in 2021.Read More

Herbert List, Black and white beauties…

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Mostro in the Garden of Palazzo Orsini, Bomarzo, Italy, 1952 © Herbert List Estate, Hamburg and Magnum Photo Courtesy Galerie Karsten Greve St. Moritz Paris Köln

I have to admit I had never heard of Herbert List before stepping into the Karsten Greve gallery of rue Debelleyme on one of my Marais tours of the month. The occasion was to meet Victoire, a very pretty little girl born last May in Moscow and we wandered around the galleries with her mother. And it was interesting to see how well we were welcome… After being disappointed by the Bustamante show at Thaddaeus Ropac, we had this wonderful surprise of the black and white photo exhibition of the German artist in his Italian years. He died in 1975 and the gallery works with his estate.Read More

Sèvres porcelain and beautiful furniture on place Beauvau

parisdiaArt, Books, FurnitureLeave a Comment

Crédence bleue : 17 th and 18 th century baroque faïence from Delft, Rouen, Lille and Nevers mixed with Chinese porcelain on a gilt wood Régence console from galerie Aveline, photo Jérémy Beylard

Unfortunately the major Musée de Sèvres exhibition, “A table, le repas tout un art”  which should have opened mid December is postponed until museums reopen in January but it will last until June, so you can’t miss it. And you can buy the catalog published by Gourcuff Gradenigo and prepare your future visit, the objects are amazing. And you can still see beautiful porcelains, old and contemporary, at Galerie Aveline where Marella Rossi has cleverly devised an exhibition “Les petits plats dans les grands” with antique dealer Camille Leprince, J &L Lobmeyr cristal and Odiot silverware. The idea was conceived three years ago with Ombeline d’Arche, then in charge of new creations at Sèvres but only took place this December.  It’s always a delight to visit the beautiful gallery founded by Jean Marie Rossi on place Beauvau and security is total since its neighbors are the Ministry of Interior and Palais de l’Elysée. Don’t miss it, it’s free… unless you leave with one of the amazing pieces…

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Gaby Wagner has caught Venice in complete stillness!

parisdiaBooks, Photography1 Comment

CANAL GRANDE, 29.04.2020 – 7.04 pm, (c) thespacelessgallery.com

Photographer Gaby Wagner has lived in Venice for twenty three years and when lockdown started last March 8, she decided to catch the opportunity to photograph this usually overcrowded city. She always carried a chemist bag with her because the police was stopping unusual movements on the street and buying medicine was her excuse to go out one hour a day. And she took pictures with her iPhone 11, so as not to be noticed. From early morning to night, she walked around town in a one km circle from Campo San Polo where she lives, and shot all the famous views in complete stillness and silence. The result is this unusual, large book of 95 photographs selected from more than 800 shots.Read More

Last minute presents

parisdiaBooks, Fashion, Photography2 Comments

Marie Hélène de Taillac, a very pretty Byzantine gold ring with a large lemon quartz, and multicolor semi precious stones, at 3 890€

Going shopping for Christmas can be fun and I loved my little time spent at Marie Hélène de Taillac‘s shop on rue de Tournon. It is all blue and red and her sister Gabrielle, who beautifully edited the book on her jewelry, could not have been more patient and charming as is Philippe, the director of sales. Sealed drawers magically open and there comes a myriad of colored stones which are all cut and mounted in Jaipur, India. Prices are modest for precious stones and start at 300€. You find earrings and light necklaces, but mostly incredibly playful colored rings starting around 800€. One is in the shape of lips, very Dali like, others glitter like a summer sky. Read More

One woman and three men star this week

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Djaïli Amadou Amal won the Goncourt des Lycéens for her book Les Impatientes

Out of the four novels selected in the finals of the Goncourt Prize (the equivalent of the Booker Prize in France), only one appealed to me and the good surprise was that “Les Impatientes” was quite short, 240 pages, and completely mind grabbing. Now 45, the author,  Djaïli Amadou Amal is a Peule from North Cameroon, the French speaking part of the country. An avid reader and a good high school student, she was married off at 17 to a much older politician and has since become a noted writer. After winning the Orange Prize for Africa the book has recently been published in France by Emmanuelle Collas. It is the riveting account by three women of their forced marriages, their lives in a harem like situation, where they fight for the husband’s attention and their psychological survival. Her heroin Ramla is more literate than her rivals and ultimately flees for her freedom. The details of each life are beautifully analyzed with an African voice by a very smart woman who fights for all her fellow forced brides. The book will be translated in English next year. Read More

And another Christmas table by Fabienne de Seze

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Table cloth by Beauvillé, plates and angels in Barbotine, water jugs from Vallauris, glasses by Jean Luce and Norman turned glass carafe

Fabienne de Seze is the good friend without whom you cannot live. Her profession is to organise weddings and balls but she used to work for Musée des Arts Décoratifs for many years, and created their wonderful shop which is still the best place to find presents in Paris. You can ask her any question, she will solve your problem. The best printer for invitations, the best light designer, the greatest caterers and butlers, florist, cushion maker, vintage car renter, she knows it all.  She has kindly made this Christmas table for Parisdiary and dares mixing orange and green, which is very festive. Read More