“I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles. I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles….” Like with the iconic Cole Porter song, Australian Paris-based writer John Baxter loves Paris. Proof is that since moving here in 1989 he has written several books about the city including “We’ll Always Have Paris: Sex and Love in the City of Light,” “Immoveable feast : a Paris Christmas,” “The Most Beautiful Walk in the World : a Pedestrian in Paris” and “Five Nights in Paris: After Dark in the City of Light.” Continue reading “John Baxter Loves Paris”
Walking on the Moon
The Apollo 11 lunar module with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon fifty years ago on July 20, 1969. Armstrong’s first step onto the lunar surface was broadcast on live TV to a worldwide audience. He famously described the event as “one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” To mark the occasion Paris’ Grand Palais is exhibiting “La Lune, du voyage réel aux voyages imaginaires” (to July 22, 2019). Continue reading “Walking on the Moon”
Workers of the World…
Around the working world in 80 photos is an exhibition titled “EtreS au Travail” (Beings at Work) displayed on the Luxembourg Garden fence along rue Médicis (until July 14, 2019). Large color photos mostly taken by Magnum photographers such as Steve McCurry, Marc Riboud and Martin Parr are accompanied by thought provoking captions written by labor specialists. The exhibition celebrates the centenary of the International Labor Organization (ILO). Continue reading “Workers of the World…”
Wim Wenders’ Grand Palais Installation
Paris’ Grand Palais hosts a monumental immersive cinematic installation “Unidentified Plastic Object” featuring Wim Wenders’ film clips accompanied by music chosen by the German filmmaker especially for the event such as Ry Cooder’s unforgettable haunting slide guitar in “Paris Texas” and music from “Buena Vista Social Club.” Every evening 9PM to midnight (until April 22nd). Free admission. Continue reading “Wim Wenders’ Grand Palais Installation”
Blue Riders on the Storm
Paris’ Musee de l’Orangerie revisits two major German painters Franz Marc and August Macke— who were part of the “Blue Rider” group (Der Blaue Reiter)— with the exhibition “L’adventure du cavalier bleu” (to June 17, 2019). The exhibition focuses on Marc and Macke’s artistic relationship, how their lives and work intersected and evolved. Continue reading “Blue Riders on the Storm”
Luigi Ghirri’s Kodachromes
The Italian photographer Luigi Ghirri’s (1943- 1992) used his favorite film —Kodak’s Kodachrome— to make pioneering color photographs during the 70’s at a time when most art photographers insisted on portraying the world in black and white. Although he is less known than his American counterparts —William Eggleston, Stephen Shore or Robert Adams— his work marked a generation of European photographers. He is featured this spring with an exhibition “Carte et Territoires” (Map & Territory) at Paris’ Jeu de Paume (to June 02, 2019). Continue reading “Luigi Ghirri’s Kodachromes”
Paris, a Month of Photography
The Mois de la Photo-OFF is a fringe festival organized in parallel to the official Mois de la Photo. This year Paris’ official month of photography is going through changes and has been suspended until further notice (maybe 2020) leaving the Off Photo Fest to carrying on alone this year keeping the photo flame. Continue reading “Paris, a Month of Photography”
Back in the USSR
The October Revolution (1917) ended centuries of Czarist rule reshaping the Russian empire into the Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Meanwhile Russian artists during those turbulent times were making their own revolutions breaking the old art rules with new ideas such as cubism, futurism and expressionism. Continue reading “Back in the USSR”
Tomi Ungerer Paris Exhibits
The Irish Cultural Center in Paris tributes Alsatian-born satirist and illustrator Tomi Ungerer (1931-2019)—who lived in Ireland for more than forty years– with an exhibition “En Attendant” featuring his “Waiting for Godot” collage series and several sculptures (until July 5, 2019). Continue reading “Tomi Ungerer Paris Exhibits”
Thomas Houseago Paris Retrospective
Los Angeles based British artist Thomas Houseago’s “Almost Human” is a retrospective exhibition featuring his sculptures and paintings at the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris (until July 14, 2019). The exhibition —with a title inspired by Leonard Cohen’s iconic song “Suzanne”—follows the evolution of Houseago’s work from the 1990s to present day experiments. Continue reading “Thomas Houseago Paris Retrospective”
Wilting Point Photos
William Daniels’ color documentary photographs are featured with the exhibition “Wilting Point” at the the Pavillon Carre de Baudouin in Paris’ 20th arrondissement (until April 11, 2019). Dainiels (born 1977) is a French Paris-based photojournalist working with National Geographic, Time Magazine, Le Monde and Polka. The exhibition includes recent photos from his Central African Republic series as well as photos taken in Kirghizistan, Bangladesh, Russia, Syria and a dizzying number of other troubled places. Continue reading “Wilting Point Photos”