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Museums

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Culture

Museums to visit in post-confinement Paris

Even though many aspects of our pre-confinement life have to wait, life is slowly coming back to Paris. While restaurants, bars, and cafes mostly still remain closed, several small-sized Pasian museums are reopening after the quarantine. Le Musée de l’Illusion (opened on May 11) The newly opened Museum of Illusions is the first one on our list and probably the most bizarre one. This unique museum will make you question reliance on your senses because nothing there is what it seems to be as its only purpose is to trick your mind. Yet, it’s not only visually entertaining but also educational, so if you want to discover a bit of science in a fun way, that’s the place to visit. Safety measures: online reservation is highly recommended, but not mandatory. Entry is limited to 70 people a day (ten one-hour visits per day). The museum’s rooms are additionally prepared according to…

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Musée Cernuschi – Grand Re-opening

Almost one year after closing for renovation works, the Musée Cernuschi is re-opening its doors for visitors on Wednesday, March 4. One of the oldest museums of Asian art in Europe is marking the new era in its history with the new permanent collection. Tiger, lacquered and gilded wood, inlaid eyes, 18-19th century (via: Paris Musées) Founded by an Italian-born banker, economist, journalist, and art collector, Henri Cernuschi, who bequeathed his collection to the city of Paris. The eponymous museum was inaugurated in 1898 and established in a small, neoclassical-style mansion in the 8th arrondissement that was once Cernuschi’s residence. A continually enlarged collection of objects from Asia is based on art pieces acquired by Henri Cernuschi, during his journey to the Far East, that will open the new permanent collection. Henri Cernuschi (via: Paris Musées) The new collection also presents a broad perspective on the arts of China from…

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Museums

Musée Zadkine – a museum to visit in autumn

Paris is one of the most beautiful autumn cities in the world, and where else embodies most vividly the spirit of the season better than those breathtaking Parisian gardens with trees enriched by all nuances in the color palettes of green and yellow. Luxembourg garden in the 6tharrondissement comes as our most recommended, however, if a public garden isn’t cultural enough to spend a Parisian autumn afternoon, here comes Musée Zadkine, a hidden gem right near Luxembourg garden! Bronze sculptures of Ossip Zadkine in the garden of Musée Zadkine The small yet lovely buildings and garden of Musée Zadkine was the house and atelier of Russian-french sculptor Ossip Zadkine (1890-1967), one of the greatest masters of cubist sculptures. After his death, his widow donated the estate to the city of Paris and Musée Zadkine opened its door to the public in 1982. Since then, the museum regularly holds temporary exhibitions…

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Culture

Les Nabis et le décor at Musée du Luxembourg

Oneiric, vivid, joyous, rhythmic, rooted in nature and inspired by the Japanese “pictures of the floating world” (ukiyo-e). There are many words to describe the Nabis’ art who marked their presence in the late 19th century. Édouard Vuillard, The Music (1896) The Nabis were a group of painters whose mission was to assert their opposition to Impressionism, which they considered too close to reality. Inspired by mysticism and esotericism, they took their name from the Arabic word nabi (and the similar word in Hebrew – nebiim) which means prophet. Their goal was to revitalize paintings with their revolutionary and original style feeding on various philosophies, religions, and doctrines as well as literature, theater, and poetry. Maurice Denis, Legend Of Saint-Hubert (1897) The exhibition Les Nabis et le décor held in Musée du Luxembourg (located in the famous Luxembourg Gardens) gathers works of Bonnard, Vuillard, Maurice Denis, Sérusier, Ranson, and Vallotton.…

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Giacometti as Muse – FLORA at Institut Giacometti

In the quiet but charming district of Montparnasse, just 5 minutes’ walk away from the modern and refreshing Foundation Cartier building, hides yet another hidden gem of the 14th arrondissement. Institut Giacometti, who resides in a four-floor art déco hôtel with a modest size and an even more modest entrance, has just opened its door to the parisien public last summer. 5 rue Victor-Schoelcher, 75014 Paris This tiny museum dedicates the ground floor to a reconstructed atelier of Giacometti, with sculptures, drawings, tools and even a bed. Protected by glasses, the atelier as a whole is presented as an art piece and is the ultimate showcase for Giacometti’s charm. Atelier of Giacometti reconstructed In less than a year, the Institut has held three exhibitions to Alberto Giacometti and other contemporary artists whose works were inspired by the master. However, <Flora>, the fourth exhibition now (April 5th to June 5th 2019)…

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GALLERY FRIDAY – PERROTIN

Located in a 17th century hotel at rue de Turenne in central Marais, the elegant building and garden, and the spacious exhibition halls add to the glamour of one of Paris’ most influential contemporary art galleries. The legendary galeriste Emmanuel Perrotin founded his first gallery at the age of only 21, and as rumor has it, in his kitchen! With great taste, ambition, and hard-work, monsieur Perrotin now has his galleries in six mega cities around the globe. 76 rue de Turenne 75003 Paris The gallery represents all A-list artists, from native french master Pierre Soulages, to internationally renowned Maurizio Cattelan, Sophie Calle, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Xavier Veilhan, Takashi Murakami, to the popular street artist/photographer JR… This wide range of artists with different styles concretes the dominant position of galerie Perrotin in the art market, and their space in le Marais gives visitors chances to see the trendiest art. Otani Workshop…

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Museums

MUSEUM MONDAY – MUSÉE BOURDELLE

A hidden gem of the 15th arrondissement for sculptural art enthusiasts, as well as for people looking for a quieter place to visit, rest, without loosing touch of a true Parisian flavor. Small but charming, the Musée Bourdelle was the studio-home-garden of sculptor Antoine Bourdelle (1861–1929), student of Auguste Rodin, and teacher of Giacometti and Henri Matisse, less known but an important figure in modern art history. From great halls to smaller exhibition rooms, from once active studios to outdoor spaces, the museum shows more than 500 works of the sculptor, including the most impressive marble, plaster, and bronze statues. The temporary exhibitions here are also beautifully themed and well organized. Visiting the museum is like traveling back to the late 19th century, thanks to the authentic taste of the studios the museum preserves. Choose a sunny day, visit and chat and even have lunch facing the beautiful garden, enjoying…

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REN HANG AT MAISON EUROPÉENNE DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE

Housed in a grand hotel in the very heart of le Marais district, Maison Européenne de la Photographie, or ‘MEP Paris’ for short, is a must-go for contemporary photography lovers (try Jeu de Paume in the garden of Tuileries if you are more into more classical and modern period photography). In this rainy, grey Parisian spring, MEP holds the first ever exhibition in France dedicated to the late Chinese photographer and poet Ren Hang, who took his own life at the age of 29 in 2017. An ingenious artist with an easily recognizable style of highly contrasted colors, Ren Hang shot his models, mostly his friends, all naked, genitals exposed and accentuated, bodies overlapped, in a crappy hotel bedroom, or inside a wild bush, or on a rooftop against the background of the smoky grey Chinese urban scene. More than 150 works exhibited show Ren Hang’s quest for identity, sexuality…

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THE COURTAULD COLLECTION AT FONDATION LOUIS VUITTON

Everybody loves the impressionism! Whether it’s the flower fields, riversides, train stations, or the scenes of lovely outdoor gatherings, balls and ballet performances, or the soul-touching self-portraits by our favorite artists… really, what’s not to love! However, this love didn’t come natural for anyone, it took time and tolerance and the help of visionary and generous collectors and art promoters. British entrepreneur and art patron Samuel Courtauld was the one that made British public fell in love with the impressionism and post-impressionism. And now at Foundation Louis Vuitton, after the sensational showcase of MoMA’s finest in Paris, they bring together the best of the Courtauld collection during the renovation of the London Courtauld gallery. 110 works, including the some of the best paintings by Manet, Seurat, Cézanne, Gauguin and Van Gogh. It’s also the first time that many of these French masterpieces first came back home after six decades. To…

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