From the kinetic artworks still bewitching the Pavillon Carré de Baudouin until the end of the month to the many inspired artists featured in the galleries of the Marais and Belleville neighborhoods, our December 2019 cultural selection is sure to bring a touch of poetry to the winter season.
Adventurous art lovers can also explore fantastic and mysterious worlds with the retrospective of the Cinémathèque devoted to vampires, and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France’s ambitious exhibit dedicated to J. R. R. Tolkien, the father of fantasy and the Lord of the Rings.
Virginie Bécourt & Ji-Yun – “Anatomies”
From December 14th to February 27th
In the heart of the charming Saint-Blaise neighborhood, the Galerie Derniers Jours welcomes a mirror exhibit bringing together two of the artists it represents. The underlying theme of the body will undoubtedly unite the textile creations of Virginie Bécourt and Ji-Yun’s surprising artworks, inspired by traditional Korean painting.
The opening preview of the exhibit will be held on December 14th, starting from 6pm. In any case, a visit is a perfect occasion to discover the unique style of these two artists, and maybe enjoy this opportunity to take a winter stroll around what was once the village of Charonne.
Wednesday to Friday: 4pm-7pm – Saturday: 2pm-7pm
Galerie Derniers Jours
5 Rue Saint-Blaise, 75020 Paris
+33 (0)6 85 07 63 32
derniersjours.com
Collective Exhibition by Eko Sato – “Le Silence du Mouvement”
Until December 21st
After the success of its last artistic season dedicated to humanist photography, the Pavillon Carré de Baudouin now focuses on the theme of movement. The institution welcomes an international selection of contemporary artists invited by Eko Sato, a gallery manager based up the hills of Belleville and the curator of this new exhibit.
« Free from hierarchies, favoring a dialogue between the work of artists from different origins and generations » as well as an immersive and sensorial approach, « Le Silence du Mouvement » features kinetic art pieces by Damien Bénéteau, Laurent Debraux, Justin Fiske, Pascal Haudressy, Gladys Nistor, Catarina Rosa, Karina Smigla-Bobinski and Haruhiko Sunagawa.
Tuesday to Saturday: 11am-6pm
Pavillon Carré de Baudouin
121 Rue de Ménilmontant, 75020 Paris
+33 (0)1 58 53 55 40
www.pavilloncarredebaudouin.fr
Armelle de Sainte Marie & Catherine Geoffray – “Mémoires fertiles”
Until December 21st
Nestled between Rue Saint-Maur and Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, the Progress Gallery presents the exhibit “Mémoires fertiles” featuring creations by Armelle de Sainte Marie and Catherine Geoffray. Beyond their dreamlike inspirations, the two artists have in common to “situate their work in the fringes of plausibility, equidistant from natural and supernatural, in the gray area between reality and fantasy.”
“Through the magic of this association, their words superimpose under certain angles, under certain lights”, thus offering new glimpses of the oil and acrylic paintings of the former and the organic-like porcelain sculptures of the latter. A poetic blend following the rhythm of dreams, a central theme in the artworks of both creators.
Thursday to Saturday: 3pm-7pm
Progress Gallery
4 Passage de la Fonderie, 75011 Paris
+33 (0)1 70 23 30 20
www.progressgallery.com
« Hôtel Métropole – Since 1818 »
Until January 12th
The Pavillon de l’Arsenal’s new bilingual exhibit is dedicated to the hotel, « a familiar figure in our cities, long rooted in the urban landscape. » There are more than 2,500 such properties in the French capital : they registered 52 million overnight stays last year.
It’s the perfect occasion to explore the eventful story of the Parisian hotel industry and his most eminent representatives; yet the exhibiton is also looking towards the future. On the eve of the 2024 Olympics, it highlights some innovations of some of the 150 new projects that will soon reinforce the local hotel supply. Many events and conferences are planned until January 2020 to comment on issues related to architecture in the hospitality industry.
Tuesday to Sunday: 11am-7pm
Pavillon de l’Arsenal
21 Boulevard Morland, 75004 Paris
+33 (0)1 42 76 33 97
www.pavillon-arsenal.com
Dorothy Iannone – « Ever Daring! »
Until January 6th
Francis Bacon is the indisputable star of the moment behind the glass walls of the Centre Pompidou, yet it would be a shame to miss out on the lively pieces of American artist Dorothy Iannone presented in the exhibit « Ever Daring! ».
United in a joyful eroticism and a harmonious visual symphony, these 69 (!) drawings and paintings illustrate the originality of this talented artist. Born in 1933, Dorothy Iannone made a name for herself in the 1960s thanks to her very personal vision of abstract expressionism, « implicitly advocat[ing] equality of the sexes and explicitly advocat[ing] the virtues of sexual activity, a blend of lived experience and mystical celebration. »
Full: €14 – Reduced: €11/Free
Every Day (except Tuesday) : 11am-9pm
Centre Pompidou
Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris
+33 (0)1 44 78 12 33
www.centrepompidou.fr
Adolfo Kaminsky – Forger and Photographer
Until April 19th
In the heart of the Marais, the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme tells the passionate and turbulent story of Adolfo Kaminsky. After joining the French Resistance at 17 following his internment in the camp of Drancy, the brilliant forger decided to dedicate his talent to serve his humanist engagement and defend oppressed people around the world.
Despite the many sacrifices required by a carreer synonymous with secrecy, Adolfo Kaminsky also proves an inspired photographer, the author of thousands of pictures after the Liberation. « From the Saint-Ouen flea market to the neons of Pigalle », the French capital holds a special place in the collections of this inspiring artist and human being.
Tuesday to Friday: 11am-6pm – Saturday & Sunday: 10am-6pm
Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme
71 Rue du Temple, 75003 Paris
+33 (0)1 53 01 86 60
www.mahj.org
Paul Pouvreau – « Literally and Figuratively »
15 Novembre – 18 Janvier
A few steps away from the Canal Saint-Martin, Les Douches La Galerie presents artworks by photographer Paul Pouvreau. In the past thirty years, the imaginative artist has made a specialty of twisting « household objects, those insignificant things that take over our modes of consumption. »
A connoisseur of art history, the photographer finds inspiration in classic depictions to shape « a metaphor for our times », where the most mundane items (cardboard, plastic bags, etc.) find a second existence, this time filled with an unexpected poetry. The new exhibit « Literally and Figuratively » consists in three « ensembles »: « Faits divers », « Mascarades » and « Les invasives ».
Wednesday to Saturday: 2pm-7pm
Les Douches La Galerie
5 Rue Legouvé, 75010 Paris
+33 (0)1 78 94 03 00
www.lesdoucheslagalerie.com
« Tolkien, Journey to Middle-Earth »
Until February 16th
It’s not like it’s every day Paris Lights Up crosses the Seine! Let’s take the Passerelle Simone de Beauvoir to discover the latest grand exhibit of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France: « Tolkien, Journey to Middle-Earth ». Held until February 16th, 2020, the largest retrospective ever dedicated to the master of fantasy is a unique occasion to explore his legendary worlds and some of the sources that inspired his mythology.
The exhibit includes many artworks signed by J. R. R. Tolkien, a brilliant linguist at Oxford university who became the father of a new school of literature following the success of his books The Hobbit, The Lord of the Ring, and The Silmarillion. Visitors can cross some of the many lands Tolkien brought to life, from the green hills of the Shire to the volcanic plains of Mordor, not to mention the sacred forests of the Elves.
The success of the exhibit has so far proven undeniable: we recommend booking a ticket in advance with a precise time slot, or at least to avoid the weekend and holidays.
Full: €11 – Reduced: €9/Free
Tuesday to Sunday: 10am-7pm – Thursday: 10am-9pm
Bibliothèque François Mitterrand
Quai François Mauriac, 75706 Paris Cedex 13
+33 (0)1 53 79 49 49
bnf.fr
« Vampires, from Dracula to Buffy »
Until January 19th
Ubiquitous figures of the fantastic genre since the 19th century and Bram Stoker’s Dracula, vampires have since joined the stardom of the small and big screens. From the origins of the myth to its more recent representations, the Cinémathèque Française has gathered a century of artworks inspired by the vampire.
Between horror and eroticism, it’s no surprise that the mysterious creature has managed to conquer every continent to become a universally recognized character. Concurrently with the exhibit, the Cinémathèque also offers an ambitious program of screenings including several adaptations of the original Dracula, movies by acclaimed directors, B movies, and even showings aimed at children.
Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 12pm-7pm – Thursday: 12pm-9pm – Saturday & Sunday: 11am-8pm
Cinémathèque Française
51 Rue de Bercy, 75012 Paris
+33 (0)1 71 19 33 33
www.cinematheque.fr
13bis – “L’arme à l’œil”
Until January 5th
Residents of the Belleville and Buttes-Chaumont neighborhoods will surely recognize the inimitable style of 13bis, whose black and white artworks have made their mark in the street art DNA of Paris’ 19th arrondissement. Scenes with mythological evocations, troubling or dreamy portraits, and other “poetic gestures” in which the jungle suddenly appears in the cityscape: the artist’s repertoir has been growing for more than ten years.
On top of the Parc de Belleville, the charming gallery Les temps Donnés features some of 13bis’ creations until January 5th – you can also discover many more on the venue’s front window and in the surrounding streets. Visitors can also bring home a few souvenirs, such as t-shirts or stickers designed by the artist.
Wednesday to Sunday: 2pm-7pm
Galerie Les Temps Donnés
16 Rue des Envierges, 75020 Paris
+33 (0)6 14 89 05 05
www.lestempsdonnes.com
Cover Illustration:
Grand Hôtel, 1919 – Artwork from the exhibit “Hôtel Métropole – Since 1818″ at Pavillon de l’Arsenal © Charles Lansiaux – Pavillon de l’Arsenal