Paris Art Guide - January

Recommendations of what to see in the Parisian art world this month by our local guide, Judith Souriau. Explore more in a private art tour.

I.

Exhibition: Sophie Calle & Serena Catone
Artist: Sophie Calle
Venue: Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature
Dates: Until February 11th, 2018

Only one month left to visit Sophie Calle’s version of the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature ! The small museum was already one of the most charming & mysterious places in Paris before the conceptual artist took it over : a 17th century hotel particulier filled with stuffed animals, aged wood furniture and other collectibles that all relate to the art of hunting… Calle drags and drops her own works in the museum permanent collection to embellish the fairy tale (and insert humor). She also invited her friend Serena Catone’s bestiary. If you do not know the museum yet, it is an unmissable occasion to wander in its rooms!

Image courtesy of Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature

II.

Exhibition: Dada Africa : Non-Western Sources and Influences
Artist: Various Artists
Venue: Musée de l’Orangerie
Dates: Until February 19th, 2018

The Rietberg Museum (Zürich), the Berlinishe Galerie (Berlin) and the Musée d’Orsay (Paris) raised a burning question in the 20th century art history : why and how did Dada, a prolific and subversive art movement that first emerged in Zurich during World War I, get to know African and Asian art and decided to integrate them in their own art forms ? What’s the story behind the appropriation ? The exhibition is brilliantly documented, and it also features installations by the young Nigerian born Otobong Nkanga as a contemporary counterpoint. 

Sophie Taeuber-Arp (1889-1943), Motifs abstraits (masques), 1917
Stiftung Arp e.V., Rolandswerth/Berlin
© Stiftung Arp e.V., Berlin / Rolandswerth. Wolfgang Morell

III.

Exhibition: Louise Bourgeois : Editions
Artist: Louise Bourgeois
Venue: Galerie Karsten Greve
Dates: January 9th, 2018 until February 24th, 2018

The Galerie Karsten Greve is about to open an exhibition of Louise Bourgeois works on paper, engravings and illustrated books from the 80’s to 2009. As few copies remain available (although the artist was quite prolific then), prints and drawing are usually seen by 2 or 3 on art fairs or auctions. It is quite exciting that the gallery (who held Bourgeois first solo exhibition in Paris in Paris) gathers an ensemble of 50 pieces, of varied techniques and supports.

Image courtesy of Galerie Karsten Greve Paris

Take an art tour in Paris to discover more!

Paris Art Guide - December

I.

Exhibition: William Forsythe x Ryoji Ikeda
Artists:  William Forsythe and Ryoji Ikeda
Venue: Grande Halle de la Villette
Dates: Until December 31st, 2017

You have one month to merge into the impressive large-scale light installation by Japanese sound artist Ryoji Ikeda that just opened at La Villette. The piece is the latest iteration of Ikeda's test pattern project, in which the artist converts electronic music into binary barcode patterns, in real time. The installation goes with a piece by choreographer William Forsythe, also reflecting about the body in space and time.

II.

Exhibition: Etre moderne : le MoMa à Paris (Being Modern: MoMa in Paris)
Artists: Various artists
Venue: Fondation Louis Vuitton
Dates: Until March 5th, 2017

Etre moderne : le MoMa à Paris is one of the big exhibitions opened last October during Fiac week. The Fondation Louis Vuitton again demonstrates its strike force in the art world by bringing 200 MoMa masterpieces by Cézanne, Malevich, Calder, Joseph Beuys, Yayoi Kusama and others. The exhibition tells the story of modernity in the 20th Century, and how New York won the challenge over Europe thanks to powerful acquisitions. If you haven't seen it yet, Christmas in Paris is a great occasion!

III.

Exhibition: Lucien Hervé, Bâtisseur d'ombres
Artists: Lucien Hervé
Venue: Galerie Maubert
Dates: Until December 23rd, 2017

Maubert gallery invited me to co-curate a Lucien Hervé exhibition that I must recommend, even more if you're fond of photography and architecture. Lucien Hervé (1910-2007) was Le Corbusier's official photographer. He documented the construction works of Chandigarh, Marseille and Oscar Niemeyer's Brasilia. We decided to bring these famous pictures together with a more intimate part of his work, where his mastery with lines, shadows and composition shows. Take the occasion to shop Christmas gifts in the shape of witty, original artist editions at GDM just across the street. 

Take a tour with Judith in Paris to discover more!
 

Highlights from Paris Photo 2017

Paris Photo (8-12 November) showcased 189 exhibitors from 30 different countries beneath the glass, iron and steel roof of the beautiful Grand Palais. The fair was made up of four sections. The main area was for the galleries, which featured diverse presentations from the 19th century to today. On the first floor, the “Prismes” sector was devoted to 14 curated projects, often large-format series and solo shows. The 3rd section comprised 32 book publishers, hosting an exciting array of book signings with artists. Finally, a new addition to the programme focused on film, video and photography, held at the cinema space within the Grand Palais. This year’s fair had record attendance - 64,500 visitors over 5 days!

It was an exciting week for the auction houses too. Notably, Man Ray’s highly anticipated “Noire et Blanche” (1926) of the artist’s muse Kiki de Montparnasse, sold at Christie’s Paris last Thursday for €2.6 million ($3.1 m), setting a new world record for classic photography!

Man Ray, Noire et Blanche, 1926

Here are a few of my highlights from a busy and inspiring week at the fair!

Shigeru Onishi at MEM Gallery, Tokyo

It was thrilling to view recently discovered vintage prints by Shigeru Onishi (1928 – 1994, Japan), which was presented in a solo exhibition at MEM gallery’s stand. Onishi was a mathematician and an artist, who produced surrealist photographs and abstract ink paintings. Between the 1950s and 1970s, his work was introduced to Europe, but perhaps due to not being affiliated with any clear school, and shifting from photography to painting, his photographic work somehow disappeared from the public eye. Fortunately, it was safely kept by his family and now, 50 years later, the work is being reconsidered by museums and collectors.

His large dark-room prints are highly experimental – he used multiple exposures, unorthodox printing methods such as using a brush to coat the paper with emulsion, and embraced irregularities in the development. His nudes, cityscapes, trees and portraits combine expressive abstract, painterly forms alongside more descriptive
elements. 

Installation view of Shigeru Onishi vintage prints, MEM Gallery, Tokyo

John Chiara at Jackson Fine Art, Atlanta (Prisme section)

The San Francisco-based photographer John Chiara (b.1971, USA), who captures landscapes with giant cameras that he builds himself, and transports on a flatbed trailer, had a solo-presentation in the Prisme section at Jackson Fine Art. The works are breath-taking - sublime colours drift from areas of softness to high saturation –
each image is a singular, luminous object.

Chiara’s process creates unique, large-scale prints and recalls the early days of the medium when artists dealt with heavy, awkward equipment and endured long exposure and development times. The design of the cameras allows the artist to simultaneously shoot and perform his darkroom work while images are recorded directly onto oversized photosensitive paper. The prints retain traces of the developing process such as streaks, drips, and unevenly saturated colors, evidence of the hands-on nature of their making.

Check out his recently published first book “John Chiara: California”, co-published by Aperture and Pier 24 Photography: https://aperture.org/shop/john-chiara-california/

Installation view of John Chiara unique prints, Jackson Fine Art, Atlanta

New positions at Galerie Robert Morat, Berlin

I enjoyed the sense of calm entering Robert Morat’s minimal curation. Predominantly abstract works by artists such as Bill Jacobson and Jessica Backhaus balanced with more representational imagery with a pared down aesthetic.

One of the highlights for me was the grid of small photographs by Peter Puklus (b. 1980, Hungary), from his series “The Epic Love Story of a Warrior”. This project ambitiously covers almost 100 years of European history in a symbolic collage that references events such as World War I to the collapse of the Soviet Union, although some of the connections are fairly elusive. Nudes combined with sculptural elements hang alongside bricolage style constructions, usually made from basic materials, and black & white prints are interspersed with colour. Although Puklus’ work has clear cultural and political associations, there is also a pure aesthetic appeal in the playful dialogue and minimal compositions, where you can certainly create your own pairings, groupings and narratives. At less than €2,000 each, they are very tempting too!

Peter Puklus had a solo exhibition “Unsafe to Dance” at C/O Berlin in 2016, and has been nominated for the 2018 Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize. 

Installation view of Galerie Robert Morat, Berlin

Installation view of Peter Puklus “The Epic Love Story of a Warrior” presentation, Galerie Robert Morat, Berlin

Benrido Atelier, Kyoto (Book section)

Benrido is one of the world’s last remaining producers of collotype prints (a process invented in the late 19th century). The atelier offers selected contemporary artists the opportunity to do a residency in Kyoto and collaborate with the master printers to make exquisitely realised works. This collaboration is unique. The highly skilled printers encourage the artists to see how far they can push their images, to create ever more refined and elegant prints. Quality is ubiquitous - in the artworks, tones, paper and beautiful portfolio box presentations!

Benrido’s booth at Paris Photo was a hub of activity with artists coming to view and sign prints. A few chance encounters can be seen below such as the British artist Stephen Gill standing next to his portfolio of prints from his “Night Procession” series, the first photographs since his move to rural southern Sweden from Hackney, London. Further below, Antony Cairns signs his colour collotype print, “IBM_LDN4_20”, where he used redundant IBM computer punch cards to print his photographs digitally, later assembling them to create a composite image. 

Stephen Gill standing by his “Night Procession” collotype prints and portfolio box, Edition of 12, Benrido Atelier, Kyoto

One of Stephen Gill’s collotype prints, part of his “Night Procession” portfolio, Edition of 12, Benrido Atelier, Tokyo

Antony Cairns signing his collotype print, “IBM_LDN4_20”, Edition of 10, Benrido Atelier, Kyoto

Benrido’s CEO Takumi Suzuki (left), Margit Erb, Director of the Saul Leiter Foundation (centre) and Taka Kawachi, Overseas Division Director of Benrido (right)

Galerie Kicken, Berlin

Kicken’s booth stood out both in terms of its original architectural format of a maze of columns, and the quality of the artworks. The gallery presented mainly vintage and contemporary works by German photographers such as unique photograms by Floris Neususs (1960s/70s) and striking portraits by Helga Paris (1980s) and Sibylle Bergemann (1970s), along with earlier masters such as Albert Renger-Patzsch (1930s). Important and enticing modernist vintage prints from central Europe were also exhibited including L
szl Moholy-Nagy, Erwin Blumenfeld, Heinrich Kühn, Rudolf Koppitz and Ed van der Elsken.

Klaus Rinke’s performative 112-part work “Mutations I” (1970) was showcased by Kicken in the Prismes section. The gallery also participated in a co-presentation with Galerie Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf, of Sigmar Polke’s experimental photographic work from the late 1970s to the 1990s. Disregarding the basic rules of shooting and processing, Polke created imagery with a distinctly painterly approach, and embraced endless experimentations in the darkroom. The prices for the Polke works were comfortably in the 6-digits. 

Installation view of Galerie Kicken’s (Berlin) architectural designed stand

Ed Van der Elsken, Paris, 1953 © Ed van der Elsken / Courtesy Kicken Berlin

 Sigmar Polke, Ohne Titel / Untitled, 1968/82 © Estate of Sigmar Polke / Courtesy Kicken Berlin & Sies + Höke, Dsseldorf

Process based work at Yossi Milo, NYC

There is a strong trend towards exploring the making of images, rather than the taking of a photograph, and this was no better seen than at Yossi Milo’s stand!

A few highlights from their booth represent new positions in camera-less photography. Meghann Riepenhoff (b.1979, USA) uses one of photography’s oldest techniques, the cyanotype. Her process is extremely physical  she submerges the paper in ocean waves or drapes it over tree branches during storms to create these beautiful and textured unique works. Part of the poetry is knowing how much is left to chance and the spontaneity of her practice in nature.

Alison Rossiter’s (b. 1953, USA) unique, abstract black & white works are also highly original in their making. She uses expired photographic paper (often now sent to her by fans!), and pours onto the surface, or dips the paper in, liquid developer. The embedded traces on the paper are revealed, sometimes fingerprints, other times
light leaks, oxidation or mold in the photographic emulsion. For her “Fours” series, she dipped the paper into developer at different angles. Various tones from black, brown to white emerge and Rossiter combines four developed sheets to create large-scale abstract and sculptural compositions. 

Meghann Riepenhoff, Littoral Drift #548 (Pleasant Beach Watershed, Bainbridge Island, WA 06.22.17, Three Waves with Pooling at Apex of Low Tide), 2017 © Meghann Riepenhoff / Courtesy of Yossi Milo Gallery

Installation view of Alison Rossiter’s unique works, Yossi Milo Gallery, NYC

James Casebere at Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris

I was really drawn to James Casebere’s (b. 1953, USA) latest series of large-format photographs “Emotional Architecture”, whereby he recreated elements of the Mexican architect Luis Barragan’s iconic buildings. Casebere built table-sized models of the architecture in his studio and then photographed them to recreate the lighting and atmosphere of the real spaces. They are pared down to their essential elements, and devoid of furniture or inhabitants. At first you don’t notice they derive from models, but with time you begin to realise subtle elements are slightly off such as a tree being too large (or is it an over-sized branch!) or his incorporation of water in one of the outdoor spaces (a common feature in his work). The vibrant colours and warmth inherent
in the photographs are very enticing – and the artist’s deception keeps you looking and questioning!

James Casebere, Courtyard with Orange Wall, 2017 © James Casebere / Courtesy of Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris

James Casebere, Flooded Courtyard with Tree, 2017 © James Casebere / Courtesy of Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris

Vivane Sassen at Stevenson, Cape Town & Johannesburg

Stevenson’s presentation of Viviane Sassen’s (b. 1972, Netherlands) photographic works from her series “Of Mud and Lotus” and “Roxane II” was both beautiful and disorientating. Sassen credits the colours and contrasts of Africa (she spent the first 5 years of her life in Kenya and continues to travel and work there) as a key inspiration. Although she now devotes more time to personal projects, she is best known as a fashion photographer who has built her reputation on breaking the rules!

She experiments with collage, hand-coloured elements and streaks of pigment – it’s often hard to make out where the photograph ends and her interventions begin. This is further emphasised by the playful hang; a small distorted portrait next to an abstracted painted body part, integrated with performance, encourage layered readings and responses.

A great way to discover Viviane Sassen’s work is through her photobooks: http://www.vivianesassen.com/books/roxane/

Viviane Sassen, Untitled from Roxane II, 042, 2017 © Viviane Sassen, Courtesy of Stevenson, Cape Town and Johannesburg

Viviane Sassen, Blue Dolphin, 2017 © Viviane Sassen, Courtesy of Stevenson, Cape Town and Johannesburg

Take a tour with Diana in Zurich to discover more!

Banner image: Paris Photo 2017, © Jérémie Bouillon

What to See at FIAC 2017

Fiac, the international contemporary art fair in Paris, open tomorrow and runs until October 22nd. With around 180 galleries at the Grand Palais, including both established major galleries and the emerging generation, the choice of what booths to visit can be overwhelming. Our Paris guide Judith Souriau shared her insider recommendations of what to see when the fair opens to the public. 

Rirkrit Tiravanija

On the preview afternoon, 5 international foundations had already acquired all the editions of this work by Rirkrit Tiravanija, emblematic of the 2000’s “relational aesthetics” as you’re supposed to actually play ping-pong. Also on Chantal Crousel’s booth, don’t miss the beautiful Pierre Klossowski (Balthus’ brother) large
drawing.

Rirkrit Tiravanija

LABOR

On the Balcon d’honneur, LABOR gallery (Mexico) has a poetic and consistent booth with works by Jill Magid, Jorge Satorre and a troubling Memorandum photograph by Hector Zamoza.

LABOR gallery booth

Alina Szapocznikow

The smallest piece in the Petit Palais, a resin flawed self-portrait by the too-soon- gone polish artist Alina Szapocznikow, is undoubtedly one of the most poignant there.

Alina Szapocznikow

Jessica Warboys

This dense, pigmented canvas by Jessica Warboys caught Judith’s attention. The technique is very reminiscent of Sterling Ruby, however Warboys uses seawater. (Gaudel de Stampa, H12, upper floor)

Jessica Warboys

Claudio Parmiggiani and Thu van Tran

Thu Van Tran and Claudio Parmiggiani at Meessen de Clercq compose a very strong and poetic booth for Meessen de Clercq (F11, upper floor) with a smoke and soot evanescent library on wood, and ceramics. A metaphor for memory? 

Claudio Parmiggiani

Thu van Tran

Dardan Zhegrova

This interactive installation by Dardan Zhegrova is presented by LambdaLambdaLambda.

Dardan Zhegrova

Jeppe Hein

This balloon installation shown by 303 Gallery may be the most minimalistic work in the whole fair, and it feels good.

Jeppe Hein

Outdoor Works 

The majority of the fair is held within the Grand Palais however make sure to explore the Hors les murs (outside the walls) programmes free of cost in the Jardin des Tuileries, Place Vendôme, and Musée Delacroix. 

Lisa Williamson

"Obstruction, Reflection, Transition" (2017) by Lisa Williamson is located at the Petit Palais.

Lisa Williamson

Yona Friedman

"Project pour un musée sans batiment" (2017) is installed on Avenue Winston Churchill.

Outdoor Installation by Yona Friedman

ASIA NOW

Take a shuttle from the Grand Palais and have a glass of champagne in the charming courtyard of 9 avenue Hoche, where the 3rd edition of ASIA NOW gathers a handful of galleries from Asia. A self-paced environment to discover more art.

Asia Now

Take a tour in Paris with Judith to discover more!

Paris Art Guide - October

October is definitely the busiest month in Paris for the arts, thanks to the Fiac (October 19-22) that brings the biggest international collectors and renowned museum curators to town. Both contemporary art museums and galleries tend to schedule their best shows of the year during this time. But as many of them do not open before October 17th, take the time to enjoy Summer shows and Fall festivals before they close!  

I. 

Exhibition: Irving Penn
Artist: Irving Penn
Venue: Grand Palais
Date: until January 29th, 2018

A major retrospective of the American photographer just opened at the Grand Palais, 8 years after his death. It is the first time the Irving Penn Foundation and the MET have worked together to show such a large body of work abroad. Irving Penn worked for Vogue US, Harper’s Bazaar and Saks Fifth Avenue, but at the time neither fashion photography nor magazine reportage were considered as art. If you’re into black and white photography and the icons of the 20th century, this one is a must see. 

II.

Exhibition: Kiefer-Rodin
Artists: Auguste Rodin and Anselm Kiefer
Venue: Musée Rodin
Dates: Until October 22nd

If you haven’t seen it, do not miss this beautiful exhibition putting two major sculptors of modern times face to face. It was quite a challenge to juxtapose Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) with Anselm Kiefer (born in 1945) - one died in France during WWI, the second was born in Germany just after WWII. But when you see the strength of raw materials, how the hand treats the human figure and the mise-en-scene both sculptors use in some installations, it seems like an obvious pairing. This exhibition is a beautiful ode to sculpture and European history of the 19-20th centuries. 

Image: http://www.musee-rodin.fr/en/exhibition/exposition/kiefer-rodin

III.

Exhibition: Biennale des photographes du monde arabe contemporain
Artists: Various Artists
Venue: Various Venues
Date: Until November 12th 

L’Ima (Institut du monde arabe) and la Maison européenne de la photographie (Mep) have put together the second biennale of contemporary photographers from the Arab world. Hicham Benohoud, Farida Hamak and Xenia Nikolskaya question the arabic identity at the Mep (7 rue de Fourcy, 75004), while Galerie Photo12 is showing David Aron’s pictures from Tanger and Galerie Binôme has « The third image » on display with two young artists, Sara Naim (born in Syria in 1987) and Mustafa Azeroual (Franco-Moroccan, 1979). 

Image: Randa Mirza , Residence - Beirutopia Series (2011 - current project) © Courtesy Galerie Thierry Marlat

Take a tour with Judith in Paris to discover more!