Crystal from Baccarat and Lalique, and photography from Japan, for your viewing pleasure in the spectacular surroundings of the Bagatelle gardens.


The gardens may be splendid enough, but recently Bagatelle has been pulling out all the stops for its temporary exhibitions too. After a great kimono exhibition earlier this year, here are a couple of new events that look quite interesting.

Firstly, in the gallery (Seine side) Claire Xuan will be exposing her latest photos of nature, part of her exploration of the five eastern philosophies: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The exhibition is called A l’Air Libre (which translates as something like “outside in the fresh air”). All the photos were taken in Japan, and this particular selection focuses on wood, earth and water.

For the Fête de Jardins 27/28th September 2008 (that we’ll be telling you about very soon), she’ll be signing copies of her book in the gallery (3pm).

Claire Xuan © Eléments d’Edition 2008

Running concurrently in the gallery and Trianon is an exhibition called Crystal Gardens; Vincent Dupont-Rougier has created four ‘gardens’ mixing crystal and plants, together with short videos explaining the history and manufacture of crystal.

Part of the exhibition, in the gardens, will be near one of the ponds, reflecting the highly-reflective crystal back at itself. Sounds amazing!

Here’s all the essential information for A l’Air Libre and Jardins de Cristal at the Parc de Bagatelle

When: 25th August – 2nd November 2008
Where: Parc de Bagatelle (in the gallery, Trianon and gardens), entry at the corner of Route de Sèvres-à-Neuilly and allée de Longchamp in the Bois de Boulogne, 16th arrondissement, Paris. Métro pont de Neuilly (line 1) then bus n° 43, or métro porte Maillot (line 1, RER line C), then bus n° 244, or métro porte d’Auteuil (line 10), then bus n° 241
Opening hours: open every day from 10am – 6pm
Admission: Adults 3 euros, concessions 1.5 euros, free for kids under 7 years old
More info (in French): here and here.

Bigger map here

P.S. More of Claire Xuan’s work is also on display in September and October in Aix, if you happen to be down in the south!

Claire Xuan © Eléments d’Edition 2008