3-5 October 08
www.paris-live.com
...A quick jolly over to Paris - to soak up a little late summer sun and culture...
Dave and I are just back from Paris after enjoying a couple of days sightseeing and visiting a few of the less well-known attractions. We visited this great City twice during 'o7 and managed to tik-off most of the galleries and attractions then. Must plan another trip soon to visit the remaining few!
Images above are from the current show at the Palais De Tokyo. This is a fantastically vibrant and energetic exhibition and performance space, located on the north bank and virtually opposite the Eiffel Tower. Housed in an art deco building that dates from 1937, this 'shell' was re-born in 2001 after french architects Anne Lacaton & Jean-Philippe Vassal tore the interior apart. They left very little of the original fittings apart from raw concrete, bare brick and strip lighting. This space is both brutal and beautiful!
The show - sorry got carried away ;-) - From one Revolution to another.
A really interesting installation by Turner prize winner Jeremy Deller and Ed Hall exploring the relationship between industrial and cultural revolutions. What did it look like when coal mining and glam-rock met for the first time? - What makes us British and how does the rest of the world see us? Blackpool joke shops, Coronation Street, Hells Angel's and ASBO's all had a part in illustrating this story... Ed Hall's banners dressed the ceiling space brilliantly and added a really interesting and emotive dimension. 'Snowdrop' the mechanical walking elephant was also very entertaining - whatever next?...
We really recommend this 'quirky' cultural centre - it has a cool vibe, great gift shop and very chilled bar with outdoor terrace! - go see!
8 out of 10
The Musee Marmottan Monet (above) is a fantastic smaller museum located in the leafy suburbs of Eastern Paris. The 'musee' was created when a hunting lodge was bought from the owners in 1882 by Jules Marmottan and then later converted into a museum by his son Paul. Most of the collection was 'gifted' to the museum upon the death of Claude Monet's son, Michel, in 1966. It now boasts the largest collection of Monet paintings in the world and is a must see for any fan of the master Impressionist!
Key works are located downstairs in a huge oval space, reminiscent of that in the Musee de l'Orangerie. It is here that you really get to know Oscar-Claude Monet. Most of his periods are represented from early cartoons to the wonderful 'water lilies'... bliss!
The Museum also houses fine examples of Napoleonic art, furniture and objets d'art, medieval sculpture and manuscripts. You can also enjoy a further 300 paintings from the Impressionist and post-Impressionist periods including works by: Degas, Manet, Pissarro, Renoir and Rodin.
Well worth straying from the typical 'tourist trail' and very enjoyable... just needs a little love and attention in places, a lick of paint here-and-there would not go amiss - shame!
7 out of 10
