Art and Culture
Meroë, Empire on the Nile, an exhibition at the Louvre
from 26th March – 6th September 2010
I have to admit that before today I have never hear of Meroë, but a quick enquiry on the web shows that it’s a city discovered by French explorer Frédéric Cailliaud in 1822. This exhibition is the first to concentrate on the town, with 200 pieces that showcase the majesty of this ancient civilisation and it multiple influences…
The pyramids of the northern royal necropolis in Meroë. (c) M. Baud
Sex, death and sacrifice, an exhibition at the
Quai Branly museum, 9th March – 23rd May 2010
Bravo to the brilliant PR person who came up with the title for this exhibition; hip, hype, funky (for what is – after all – ceramics). But – fair enough – these pottery objects do reveal an astonishing link that the Mochica people established between religion, power, sexuality and death…
Anthropomorphic figure, sitting © Museo Larco, Lima-Pérou
Meijer de Haan, the Hidden Master, an exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay from 16th March – 20th June 2010
Although the painter Meijer de Haan (1852-1895) is mainly known for the often mysterious portraits of him painted by his ‘friend’ Paul Gauguin, his body of work, started in his native Holland, then continued mainly in France, remains largely unknown….
Musée d'Orsay. Photo : JasonW
Crime and Punishment exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay
from 16th March – 27th June 2010
The title explains most of the subject: this new exhibition shows two centuries of art, starting in 179 when Louis-Michel Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau lobbied for the death penalty to be abolished, and stops at 30th September 1981, the day onwhich the death penalty was finally abolished in France.
By the way, the museum warns that « some of the pieces presented in the exhibition may be shocking to some visitors (particularly children) ». Great for your blood-thirsty teenagers then! We investigate…
Musée d'Orssay. Photo: JasonW
‘Animal’ exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs until 30th Noveber 2011
Yes, you have a bit of time of you want to see this new exhibition! Or perhaps – if you’re an animal and art lover – you’ll want to see it over and over again? As the title suggests, it’s a mix of subjects, styles and eras with one thing in common… animals: furniture, tableware, fashion, fabrics, toys, posters, jewellery… Grrr!
Affiche Peugeot, 1928 Lithographie couleur Georges Favre Gaillard Affiche © Les Arts Décoratifs. Photo : Jean Tholance
Versaille photographed 1850-2010, a photo exhibition at the Château de Versailles until 25th April 2010
What a great idea, using the château de Versailles for interesting exhibitions, like the recent ones by Jeff Koons and Karl Lagerfeld. Currently, they are hosting a new photo exhibition: 150 shots taken over 160 years, all inspired by the château and its multiple photo ops. You can even enter a contest with your own photo and win a special day’s shooting around the place! Here’s all the info…
Visitors in the Apoll room 2009, Nathalie Darbellay, October 2009, from the artist's collection © Nathalie Darbellay
Yves Saint Laurent exhibition at the Petit Palais from 11th March – 29th August 2010
After a couple of high profile auctions, and with the wife of the French president overseeing things, this first ever retrospective of the work of Yves Saint Laurent should be a huge success for the Petit Palais…
Lucian Freud exhibition at the Pompidou Centre from 10th March – 19th July 2010
Lucian Freud, today aged 88, stands among the most important living artists in the world and he hasn’t been exhibited in France since the last retrospective exhibition presented by the Centre Pompidou in 1987. This exhibition presents an exceptional overview of his masterpieces and pays an unprecedented tribute to one of the greatest contemporary painters.
Lucian Freud, Naked admirer, 2004-2005. © David Dawson, courtesy of Hazlitt Holland-Hibbert, London
Exhibition Chopin in Paris, the composer’s workshop
at the Cité de la Musique from 9th March- 6th June 2010
Organised together with the French National Library, this exhibition celebrated the bicentenary of the pianist and composer’s birth, giving a new perspective on his work.
photo by 黃毛 used under cc licence
Holy Russia exhibition at the Louvre
from 5th March – 24th May 2010
As part of France’s « Year of Russia » celebrations, the Louvre is hosting a major exhibition devoted to the history of Christian Russia, from the 9th to the 18th century, the Beginnings to Peter the Great.
(lire la suite / continue reading)
