In October, Paris has seen the launch of many great exhibitions. Don’t panic, most will last several months, the time for you to sneak away to Paris for a weekend. Or more… Le Monde just published their critique picks. And we agree with them:
Musée de l’Orangerie
“Frida Kahlo / Diego Rivera. Art in Fusion”
Roughly thirty pieces of art from the storied post-revolutionary couple of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo will be on display until January 13th, 2014 at the Musée de l’Orangerie. “The strength of Frida Kahlo, which goes directly to the basics without worrying about offending or scaring off, is combined with the knowledge and skill of the virtuoso of Diego Rivera”, says Le Monde.
Bursting forth following the student protests of 1968, the hippies, and the socio-economic climate of the time, Europunk explores the visuals behind the punk movement in Europe. Through an exploration of the key personalities and artists, such as Bazooka, Jamie Reid, and Sex Pistols, Europunk “seeks to underline how much the punk counterculture embodied the desire to wipe out the past and marked a deep cultural renewal.” Flyers, posters, vinyl record sleeves, clothes and more will be on display through January 19th, 2014.
Bibliothèque Nationale de France
“Astérix at the BnF!”
The véritable histoire of the cultural phenomena that is Asterix and Obelix has opened at the National Library of France. Translated into 107 languages with over 350 million copies sold worldwide, the creation written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo has enchanted children and adults for over 50 years since its debut in Pilote magazine October 29th, 1959. Original plates, notes, and storylines complement explorations of the creators’ childhood and youth before detailing the unparalleled success of the beloved characters. The exhibit runs through January 19th, 2014.
Cinémathèque Française
“Pasolini Roma”
Arriving in Rome in 1950 under difficult circumstances, and leaving the world 25 years later in 1975, Pier Paolo Pasolini left a marked impact on the city. Putting in perspective his Roman career from “lumpenprolétariat” to when he was found mutilated in Ostia, this six-part retrospective of the exceptional Italian director transports visitors to his contemporary and emotionally stirring vision of Rome through his portraits, poetry and films. The exhibit runs through January 26th, 2014.
Musée du Quai Branly
“Kanak: Art is a Word”
The first large exhibit on the Kanak people and culture takes place in Musée du Quai Branly until January 26th, 2014. The Kanak are the indigenous inhabitants of New Caledonia in the southwest Pacific, a French overseas territory. Organized in a circle, the exhibit follows a path of “the five faces” characterized by the kanak language to present the ritual and historic objects, statues and carved bamboo of the Kanak people.
Louvre Museum
“The Springtime of the Renaissance – Sculpture and Arts in Florence, 1400-1460”
The Springtime of the Renaissance exhibit at the Louvre focuses on beginning of this historic movement through sculptures. Masterpieces by Donatello serve as the centerpiece of the exhibition, which also includes 140 Renaissance works of art grouped into ten sections. Explore the early days of the Renaissance through pieces from sculptors such as Ghiberti, Desiderio da Settignano, Michelozzo and Mino da Fiesole. The exhibit runs until January 6th, 2014.
Musée Guimet
“Angkor: Birth of the Myth – Louis Delaporte and Cambodia”
Through January 13th, 2014, Musée Guimet will explore the myth and fascination surrounding Angkor. The exhibit details how the khmer culture had been rediscovered as well as how the Angkor monuments were introduced to the public at the time of the storied World and Colonial Expositions. Stone sculptures from the 10th-13th centuries, photographs, paintings, plaster casts, and documents serve as a witness to the first contact of France with the art of ancient Cambodia through the explorer Louis Delaporte.
Jeu de Paume
“Erwin Blumenfeld (1897-1969)”
The German photographer, Erwin Blumenfeld, achieved worldwide success, notably in the United States, through Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. His work united both the personal stories and consequences of emigration and the sociopolitical context of the time between the two World Wars. With over 300 pieces of work and documents spanning between the 1910s and 1960s, including his Parisian black and white fashion photographs, the exhibit will run through January 26th, 2014.
Alongside his contemporary Picasso, Georges Braque was a figurehead behind cubism. In the first retrospective consecrated to the artist in nearly 40 years, the exhibit explores Braque’s work while putting it in perspective through painting, literature and music from his time. The exhibit runs through January 6th, 2014.
Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine
“1925, When Art Deco Dazzled the World”
In the first exhibit since 1975 treating the movement, this retrospective focuses around the 1925 International Exposition of Decorative Arts as well as the rapid global spread of Art Deco. Often confused with Art Nouveau, the exhibit also includes an exploration into the differences between the two movements. “1925, When Art Deco Dazzled the World” runs through February 17th, 2014.
