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We mourn today with France, with Christians, with all mankind

Today, we are all French. Today, we gasp, we ache, we mourn. Today, we feel a nauseating sense of loss. Today, we weep.

The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is surely, along with St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, among the three most famous Christian churches in the world. And with good reason. It is — it was — magnificent.

The sheer size of the cathedral was stunning. For it to have been commissioned 850 years ago, and finished, largely, 700 years ago, makes its achievement even more mind-boggling. A person would walk through and say out loud, “How did they do this without motorized cranes, without modern alloys to help lift the stones and beams, before the flowering of knowledge and science that was the Renaissance?”

How did they figure out how to do those flying buttresses? How did they create that astonishingly beautiful rose window? What remarkable sense of devotion, of faith, inspired them?

Words fail at the tragedy that is this cathedral’s destruction. The mind wonders how authorities could have failed to have firefighting assets pre-positioned to respond immediately to a nightmare like this. Then guilt sets in for thinking of assigning blame in the midst of a disaster that hurts so badly, so deeply, especially to the French people who rightly were so proud of the glorious edifice.

by Quin Hillyer,

“Washington Examiner”

French Senate votes to restore Notre Dame to its original state

May 28, 2019

The French Senate voted to approve plans to rebuild the Notre Dame Cathedral and added a clause stipulating that it must be restored to how it was before the fire.

There has been controversy surrounding the restoration of the centuries old church, which was gutted by a massive fire last month. Some have called for the Notre Dame to be rebuilt exactly as it was, while others have pushed to add more modern elements to the Parisian landmark.

The Senate approved the bill Monday which would have the Notre Dame restored before Paris hosts the 2024 summer Olympics, but added that the cathedral must be rebuilt to its “last known visual state.”

The additional language is a rebuff of the government, which had launched an international architecture competition soliciting ideas for the Notre Dame’s redesign. The Senate also removed a clause that would have given the government the power to override planning regulations.

There has been intense debate in Paris over the restoration. French President Emmanuel Macron had called for “an inventive reconstruction” of the cathedral to make it “more beautiful than before.” Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said that she favors restoring the monument to how it originally was.

Macron does not have veto power, so the matter will return to the Senate and National Assembly to negotiate an agreement on a final version that will become law.

by Zachary Halaschak,

“Washington Examiner”

2019: 04/15
CATEGORY: JOURNAL
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The exhibition of the artist Oleg Tselkov.

2018: 05/16
CATEGORY: ARTISTS
JOURNAL
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The exhibition of the artist Rinat Sharafutdinov

IN QUEST OF THE ETERNAL HARMONY

«A piece of art is a spot of the universe seen through the prism of the unique temperament» Émile Zola

* * *

Rinat Sharafutdinov is a gifted and extraordinary artist with his own artistic system of coordinates and a singular frame of vision, reflection and feeling based on «the meditation in colors». On his canvases he calculates everything to the millimeter: the expressiveness of lines and forms, the arrangement of space through color, the subtle interaction of all pictorial elements as a unique and independent entity. His creative assets are indicative of a wide range of the artistic palette – pictorial art, graphic art and monumental-decorative art.
In the pictorial art domain the painter is prolific in the genres of landscape, still life, portrait and narrative paintings. While expanding the borders of the traditional chamber genres, he creates his own pictorial space where the color and form appear as the absolute aesthetic category and the artist reveals his unique image-bearing world in its full diversity. The characteristic feature of his pictorial temperament is the contemplation of the world. Through the vanity of everyday life the artist can carefully scrutinize the details of his environment. During his plain air sessions he enjoys drawing sketches that bear «the stamp of excessive excitement», and sometimes supply preliminary material for creating serious, large-format works. This is where the author achieves the intensity of his first feelings. Admiring the mundane beauty, the diversity of natural forms, he takes time to transfer his impressions onto the canvas, filling the pictorial space with his philosophic attitude to life and his apprehension of its transient nature as compared to the eternity of the mundane existence.
The master’s logic is based not only on the rigid adherence to the artistic principles but also on incorporating his creative imagination into the process of painting. His landscapes are absolutely reasonable with their village cottages, domestic animals, groups of agricultural workers, holiday makers, females bathing in the river, painters with easels («Evening. Verhneuralsk suburbs», 2012; «Warm autumn», 2013; «View of the Svyato-Nikolsky cathedral» 2015, and others). The subtlety of the poetic intonation is inspired by simple details of everyday routine and this narrative manner has a charm of its own. The artist resorts to this paraphernalia in order to fully express the harmony of being, and the subtle coloring provokes certain emotions in the viewers. All this enhances the impression of the universal and monumental nature of his paintings. The pastorale of many narrative motifs makes the impression that the artist lives under a different sky, perceives the world through different eyes, and therefore creates paintings unparalleled in their emotional impact and beauty and therefore turns the dream of «the life steam of happiness» into pictorial reality.
The continuous devotion of the master to landscape is not accidental as the possibility of self-expression in this genre is high. Depending on the emotional dominant the pictorial language and the coloring texture there appears an explicit sculptural brush stroke accumulating the energy of motion, bold dynamic rhythms, the expression of the local color. Natural forms turn into expressive volumes of mundane matter and literally through several brush strokes there appears the effect of a sun ray breaking through the clouds, the foliage trembling in the wind, the extravaganza of light and shadow. «Clouds», 2014; «Rain over the mountain», 2015; «Rainbow», 2016 and others). The author can impart a new content into the chosen motif that reflects his «inner ego». The secret of this «newness» is in his attitude to the natural form as a constantly changing reality, in his aspiration to alter the visual perception through his own pictorial feeling.
City landscape, warm and light, occupies a prominent place in the artist’s work. These nooks of the old city with resident-friendly architecture are peaceful and comfortable. The compositions imply the imperative development of a certain plot line – the lovers’ meeting, the anticipation of a meeting with a bouquet of flowers, walking a dog («The Provinces», 2006; «Magnitogorsk. Old yard», 2015; «Lilac in blossom», 2015; «Winter evening in the city 2015, and others). Within the framework of the city landscape genre there are works whose space is adjusted to different laws of compositional construction. The author focuses on the geometry of color contrasts, rhythm and the conventionality of architectural forms: textural planes of the walls, luminous quadrangles of the windows. But even this essential city structure suggests the mandatory presence of a human being as a certain countdown point in the apprehension of the author’s concept. (Diptych: «Outskirts», «Walking the doggie». 2016).
The author is continuing his work in the decorative stylization domain, seeking the expressive and laconic form in the still-life genre. In order to achieve plastic clarity the author transforms the world of outward things turning it into a picturesque entity that is governed by the color and linear rhythms of the composition, living the life of harmony and beauty. («Blue room», 2008; «Bouquet for ballerina», 2015 and others).
His talent is most vividly manifest in creating complex and interesting compositions in the monumental art. One of the most impressive works in the Southern Urals is an enormous size mosaics «Motion» on the façade of the Ice palace. The artist managed to accurately express rhythm and plastic dynamics. It became areal embellishment of the city. One of the recent works is the wall painting «Theatre» in the interior of the restaurant «Our all». It is a multi-figure composition in the interior of the auditorium with fancy dress characters of the second part of the nineteenth century (over 160 portraits of most prominent public figures in the city including the portrait of the author himself).
Considering a wide range of interests the development of the master’s creative evolution is not devoid of integrity and depth. The spot of the universe created in its overwhelming diversity, «seen through the prism of the artist’s temperament» is really abundant in emotions and distinguished by the sincerity of feelings and the original perception of the beauty of the world.

by Marina ABRAMOVA,
The chief curator of the Magnitogorsk City Gallery, art critic,
member of the Union of Artists of the Russian Federation.

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1. The exhibition of the artist Rinat Sharafutdinov

2. The exhibition hall.

3. The exhibition hall. The vernissage.

4. The exhibition hall. Artist Rinat Sharafutdinov.

5. The exhibition hall.

6. The exhibition hall.

7. The exhibition hall.

8. The exhibition hall.

9. The exhibition hall.

10. The exhibition hall. Diana is in front of “Diana” painting.

11. The exhibition hall. Artist Rinat Sharafutdinov.

12. “Coast. The Raging Moon”. Oil on Canvas. (70 x 80 cm)

13. “Fields”. Oil on Canvas. (70 x 80 cm)

14. “The lost river”. Oil on Canvas. (70 x 80 cm)

15. “Rain by the mountain”. Oil on Canvas. (70 x 80 cm)

16. “Fire of autumn”. Oil on Canvas. (70 x 80 cm)

17. “Outskirts. City”. Oil on Canvas. (57 x 65 cm)

18. “Walking with a dog”. Oil on Canvas. (57 x 65 cm)

19. “Diana. Portrait of the daughter with a bow”. Oil on Canvas. (48 x 43 cm)

20. “Magnitogorsk. Old courtyard“. Oil on Canvas. (73 x 92 cm)

21. “Girl with dachshund”. Oil on Canvas. (62 x 96 cm)

22. “City on a winter evening”. Oil on Canvas. (73 x 92 cm)

23. “Cherries in a green vase”. Oil on Canvas. (63 x 96 cm)

24. The exhibition hall.

25. “Rest“. Pastel on paper. (70 x 100 cm)

26. “Girlfriends”. Pastel on paper. (100 x 70 cm)

27. “Eugene”. Pastel on paper. (70 x 100 cm)

28. “Theater“. Wall painting.

29. “Enchanted hunters”. Wall painting.

30. “Motion”. Mosaic portal of the Ice Sport Palace.

31. Artist Rinat Sharafutdinov.

2017: 06/03
CATEGORY: ARTISTS
JOURNAL
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Alena Dergiliova. The Academy of Arts award

Artist Alena Dergiliova. The Russian Academy of Arts award.

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There was a presentation of the Russian Academy of Arts award 2017. Artist Alena Dergiliova and President of the Russian Academy of Arts Zourab Tsereteli.

2017: 02/08
CATEGORY: JOURNAL
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Editorial. Statistical table of views 2017

Dear readers of the journal “Russian Art & Paris”, we sincerely thank you for your everyday presence, for your letters and your comments. They are very important to us. We hope to maintain your attention in the new year as well.

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“RUSSIAN ART & PARIS”. STATISTICAL TABLE OF VIEWS.

2017: 02/08
CATEGORY: JOURNAL
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Salon “Impressions” 2016, (Barbizon)

The atelier of Jean-François Millet and the Association of Art Puissance 7 Events, in partnership with the town of Barbizon, organized the First International Exhibition “Impressions” 2016 (le Salon de l’Estampe à Barbizon). This salon aspires to become an annual event for lovers of the prints technique, having experienced moments of glory in the small village of Barbizon. In this first salon will be exhibited works by 34 contemporary artists, as well as 12 prints of the XIX century Barbizon School.

* * *

There are places, remaining in memory for a long time, that are more accessible than others for the purposes of inspiration or emotion. These are the places that attracted the attention of artists for their charm and scenic beauty. Barbizon is one of those places, located on the edge of the plain of Chailly and Fontainebfeau forest. The Barbizon School – Corot, Rousseau, Diaz, Millet, Daubigny – turned into a great art movement of the XIX century and became a premise of impressionism.
Today, Barbizon is known for its galleries and museums, but it lacks the big annual exhibition that would present the works of old and new masters in symbiosis with the spirit of Barbizon. The uniqueness of the new salon is that the exposition presents the art of engraving, which has often been the both vector to the understanding of artwork, and also, above all, an art technique that is maximally saturated with direct emotions.
We hope that the emergence of New Salon will attain the highest of our aspirations. This Salon is also the result of partnership, and we warmly thank the various stakeholders: Philippe Douce, mayor of Barbizon, for the organization of this event; Daniel Moret and his studio, for workshops for their partnership; the gallery of Angelus, for the presentation of original prints of the Barbizon school; and the municipality of Barbizon for its help.
We especially thank the artists who showed interest and agreed to participate in this first exhibition of the New Salon.

Hiam FARHAT, Maison-Atelier de JF Millet
Gérard ROBIN, Président d’Art puissance 7 Events

1. The First International Exhibition “Impressions” 2016

2. Exhibition lobby.

3. Exhibition hall.

4. Exhibition hall.

5. Exhibition hall.

6. Exhibition hall.

7. Exhibition hall.

8. Exhibition hall.

9. The viewers.

10. Artist Jeanna Clauteaux.

11. Artist Claire Illouz.

12. Artist Toni Pecoraro.

13. Artist Vitaly Gubarev.

14. Artist Mikhail Kocheshkov.

15. Artist Livio Ceschin.

16. Artist Marjan Seyedin.

17. Artist IKUTA.

18. Artist Zarko Smiljanic.

19. Artist Tsuzen Nakajima.

20. Millet’s Studio (Atelier Jean-Francois Millet), Barbizon.

2016: 05/13
CATEGORY: JOURNAL
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Paris at night.

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”
― Ernest Hemingway, writer

“I guess it goes to show that you just never know where life will take you. You search for answers. You wonder what it all means. You stumble, and you soar. And, if you’re lucky, you make it to Paris for a while.”
― Amy Thomas, writer

“Paris was a universe whole and entire unto herself, hollowed and fashioned by history; so she seemed in this age of Napoleon III with her towering buildings, her massive cathedrals, her grand boulevards and ancient winding medieval streets–as vast and indestructible as nature itself. All was embraced by her, by her volatile and enchanted populace thronging the galleries, the theaters, the cafes, giving birth over and over to genius and sanctity, philosophy and war, frivolity and the finest art; so it seemed that if all the world outside her were to sink into darkness, what was fine, what was beautiful, what was essential might there still come to its finest flower. Even the majestic trees that graced and sheltered her streets were attuned to her and the waters of the Seine, contained and beautiful as they wound through her heart; so that the earth on that spot, so shaped by blood and consciousness, had ceased to be the earth and had become Paris.”
― Anne Rice, writer

* * *

1. Night in Paris.

2. Time for the primary part of day to begin…

3. The commotion of movement affects everything:

4. … a crowd of cars…

5. … on every street,

6. … pedestrians,

7. … and even rain. Paris without rain is just impossible at such a moment.

8. Movement is the quintessence of this hour.

9. A short pause on the island…

10. … and movement again:

11. … across the street,

12. … along the street,

13. … and even circularly.

14. In any direction…

15. On any route…

16. Along any course…

17. Taxis stubbornly stand still amidst this chaotic motion.

18. This is as usual.

19. The migration of buses exists but is not so fast,

20. … not fast at all.

21. Why would you be in a hurry if you are in Paris?

22. The train is a bit crowded,

23. … but nobody bothers anyone.

24. Rush hour is over. Intersections are finally emptying,

25. … and so are business districts.

26. Nobody is in this shopping mall…

27. … or in this one.

28. Supermarkets are almost empty.

29. A lot of food patiently waiting for buyers.

30. The last customer.

31. About to close for the night.

32. A book store about to close as well.

33. Last client of the day.

34. Nobody is in the flower store.

35. The newspaper stand is closing.

36. Galleries are closed.

37. “The Thinker” is lonely.

38. This is not Rodin. This is the France Chocolatier.

39. This is not Salvador Dali, just a watch.

40. But this Raoul Dufy is real…

41. … and waiting for a good buyer.

42. It’s an excellent lobby accessory for your palace, if you have one.

43. The “Leica” store is closing now.

44. The car showroom clients are still in recollection about what they want:

45. … something like this,

46. … or like this?

47. The transportation problem is not very simple.

48. Parisians tend to side with green energy.

49. This is our ecologically bright future.

50. But right now we still (thankfully) enjoy archaic technologies…

51. Traffic comes down little by little…

52. … and the streets become a bit calmer.

53. The wistful Balzac sadly glances across the street at “Le Balzac”.

54. Life in “Le Balzac” is obviously not so bad…

55. …even in rain.

56. It’s still raining at the Arch of Triumph,

57. … but the night is already in full swing.

58. “A touch of modernity in a contemporary atmosphere with an outstanding view …

59. … on the most beautiful avenue in the world” – cafe menu of the L’Atelier Renault Centre.

60. Big modern restaurants …

61. … and old taverns from the left bank are ready and awaiting clients.

62. The turning point of the night: fewer cars and busier cafes.

63. Internet cafes are already crowded.

64. It’s an impressive sign of the digital revolution,

65. … but to get a glass of wine on a classical balcony is even more stylish.

66. At this time guests of the “Bristol” are only beginning to hail cabs to go for entertainment.

67. Perhaps to go here?

68. The “Lido de Paris“ on the Champs-Elysées is one of the most famous cabarets …

69. … and burlesque show in the world.

70. Some could still be in an undecided mood…

71. At the entrance of “George V” garçons are on spot …

72. … and in full readiness.

73. Finally it’s time for hard work here,

74. … and here,

75. … and here,

76. … and here.

77. This is the traditional style of a Parisian’ restaurant. The common hall …

78. … and a bar on the first floor.

79. There is a short line by the entrance …

80. … and a waiter invites us to an upper floor.

81. There are a few private rooms …

82. … and several small halls,

83. … like this one.

84. Another impressive empire style restaurant hall.

85. It’s impossible to imagine how people could progress …

86. … from this empire style to the unconstrained and spontaneous style of impressionism.

87. Paris is anticipating Christmas.

88. The beauty of this city,

89. … its charm,

90. … and its harmony are incredible.

91. Paris is for everybody and for everything: Paris is for bidding farewell,

92. … Paris is for hope,

93. … and Paris is for anticipations.

94. Paris is for haste …

95. … and Paris is for calm.

96. Paris is for the old …

97. … and Paris is for the young.

98. Its streets, boulevards, and squares are akin to a theatrical stage.

99. The weather does not matter.

100. What matters is the theme, plot, and actors.

101. Paris eagerly awaits a new Van Gogh,

102. … a new Degas, and so on…

103. This city always has a waiting mood …

104. … and much of its envisions have already occurred.

105. … wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.

* * *

2016: 01/05
CATEGORY: JOURNAL
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2016. Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

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“RUSSIAN ART & PARIS”. STATISTICAL TABLE OF VIEWS.

2016: 01/01
CATEGORY: JOURNAL
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The Salon “Art Capital” 2015, (Paris)

THE EXHIBITION OF THE SALON “ART CAPITAL” 2015

Under the glass roof of the Grand Palais, Art Capital brings together more than two thousand French and foreign artists, emerging or established, exhibiting paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, and other artwork, making Paris the heart of contemporary creation through the federation of several renowned salons, which emphasize their differences to better complement each other. A true incubator of new talent, Art Capital is also the scene of privileged exchanges between all actors in the world of contemporary art. Art Capital wants to be open, free, united and didactic.
The show brings together more than 40 000 visitors each year and is established for ten years as a major event of the French art scene. This year’s four iconic lounges offer all visitors, be they actors of the art world, gallery owners, collectors, professionals or the public, a course in contemporary art. They also offer a meeting with artists and their creations.
At the Salon des Artistes Independants, we discover the work of independent artists, who are not represented by galleries. The Salon of Drawing and Watercolor exhibits several foreign delegations which present their works, publicize their work and cause exciting exchanges between painters and sculptors: Belarus, Japan, Korea, Spain, Sweden, China and Canada. For their part, the Comparison Salon highlights 28 groups corresponding to just as many sensibilities and tendencies in contemporary art. The public appreciates these styles, techniques and procedures. The Society of French Artists, open to all French and foreign artists, regularly admits over 650 international artists that are reviewed by a jury which awards medals and private prizes.

In short, there is more than enough reason to meet with artists and discover their work!

* * *

Once again the Nave of the Grand Palais is to host “Art Capital’. For 6 days, you can discover the work of 2,500 artists (painters, sculptors, photographers, architects, engravers and so on…) at this great art fair. Open to the general public since 2006, the fair brings together artists from all different backgrounds and has become a reference point for the promotion of the current art scene. Art Capital strengthens links between the general public, the artists and the galleries.
Many different fairs are held as part of this event, including the Drawing and Water Painting Fair which presents works in pastel, charcoal, pencil, watercolour and even silk paper sculptures. The annual Independent Artists’ Fair is a showcase for contemporary art. Also present is the Society of French Artists which will be celebrating its 226th edition this year. They will be presenting a historic exhibition, created by Colbert in the 17th century. The society has presented remarkable works such as the Statue of Liberty by Bartholdi. Art Capital is a key event in the art world this autumn.

* * *

1. A long queue to the entrance in rainy day of the vernissage.

2. The entrance to the exhibition hall.

3. The first viewers – 2015.

4. The exhibition hall.

5. “Exode”. Sculptor Myriam Sitbon Mendel, (France).

6. “Le Corbusier”. Sculptor Andrey Tyrtyshnikov, (Russia).

7. Society of French Artists celebrating its 226th Salon.

8. In the begining of the exposition.

9. First discussions.

10. The first impression from exhibition

11. Sculptor Olga Markova, (Russia).

12. Sculptor Jacques Coquillay, (France).

13. Contemporary art.

14. The viewers.

15. Painting by Remi Planche, (France).

16. Painting by Perrone,

17. Painting by Yoshiaki Tsu Tsui, (Japan).

18. Sculptor Sylvie Falconnier, (France).

19. Painting by Reiko Okanda, (Japan).

20. Painting by Pierre Murillo, (France).

21. Painting by Alexandra Rouard, (France).

22. Sculptor …

23. Painting by Bong Hee Kim, (South Korea).

24. Painting by Alexandra da Fonseca, (France).

25. Painting by Emi Hirai, (Japan).

26. Sculptor …

27. Painting by Anastasia Vostrezova, (Russia).

28. Painting by Antoine Vincent, (France).

29. Painting by Kathleen Brodeur, (USA).

30. Sculptor Bruno Madelaine, (France).

31. Painting by Yukio Saotome, (Japan).

32. Painting by Alain Fromonot, (France).

33. Painting by Kazuo Okamoto, (Japan).

34. Sculptor Viviane Guybet, (France).

35. Painting by Zourab Tsereteli, President of the Russian Academy of Arts, (Russia)

36. Painting by Givi Siproshvili, (Russia)

37. Painting by Yasuhiro Mano, (Japan).

38. Sculptor Miodrag Scepanovic, (Montenegro).

39. Painting by Olivier Lavorel, (France).

40. Painting by Inho Yu, (France).

41. Painting by Mutsuro Kimura, (Japan).

42. Painting by Motokatsu Hara, (Japan).

43. Painting by Masao Haijima, (Japan).

44. Sculptor Martine Vaugel, (France).

45. Painting by Masashi Yokomae, (Japan).

46. Painting by Koji Aman, (Japan).

47. Painting by Takashi Tomomizu, (Japan).

48. Painting by Gerard Beaujard, (France).

49. Painting by Ponvienne, (France).

50. Painting by Jean-Francois Grebert, (France).

51. Sculptor ...

52. Painting by Misao Nei, (Japan).

53. Painting by Aleksandr Fayvisovich, (USA).

54. Painting by Misayo Ito, (Japan).

55. Sculptor Viviane Guybet, (France).

56. Painting by Shojiro Nakano, (Japan).

57. Painting by Yuri Kuroki, (Japan).

58. Painting by Alain Cordier, (France).

59. Painting by C. Thomas-Guilhem, (France).

60. Painting by Sachiko Yoshida, (Japan).

61. Sculptor Hui-Lao Tsai Hsu, (Taiwan).

62. Painting by …

63. Drawing by Gilliland,

64. Drawing by Rinat Sharafutdinov, (Russia).

65. Drawing by Hayshi,

66. Painting by Noriko Mizokawa, (Japan).

67. Painting by Sylvie Delusseau, (France). Sculptor Marie-Louise Prugnat, (France).

68. Artworks of contemporary sculptors.

68. Painting by Valentina Shoba, (Belarus).

69. Painting by Ksenia Lavrova, (Russia).

70. Painting by Sun Young Kwon, (…).

71. Painting by Jean-Jacques Lapoirie, (France).

72. The Graphic art section.

73. Exposition of the artist Alena Dergiliova, (Russia).

74. Etchings by Vitaly Gubarev (Russia) received BRONZE MEDAL 2015.

75. Etchings by Mikhail Kocheshkov, (Russia)

76. Mezzotinte by Sun-Ja Park, (France)

77. Aquatinte by Nicole Guezou, (France)

78. Pointe sèche by Helene Varshavsky, (France).

79. A day is almost over.

80. Cafe inside the Grand Palais.

81. The major intersection.

82. Evening in the Grand Palais.

83. Night in Paris.

2015: 12/01
CATEGORY: ARTISTS
JOURNAL
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FIAC 2015, (Paris)

FIAC 2015: CONTEMPORARY ART IN THE HEART OF PARIS, OCTOBER 22 – 25

Against the stunning backdrop of the Grand Palais, the international contemporary art fair, FIAC, will be held from 22 to 25 October 2015, a favored meeting place for art dealers and artists from around the world. The capital is gearing up, with even more verve than usual, to beat in time with art, design and creation. The 42nd edition of the international contemporary art fair (FIAC) will open its doors from 22 to 25 October in the heart of the city.
• First held in 1974 in the disused Bastille train station, FIAC has taken place since 1977 against the stunning backdrop of the Grand Palais along the Champs-Élysées, under the building’s famous nave, and also on the first floor and in its Salon d’Honneur. An internationally renowned made-in-Paris event, art dealers, artists and art enthusiasts alike gather together from around the world in the capital to bear witness to the buzz of global creativity.
• This year, over 3,000 artists and 170 exhibitors are expected, and French design will take center stage with the showcasing of the Marchel Duchamps prize, organized in partnership with the Pompidou Centre, the National Modern Art Museum, to reward an experienced artist living in France. The winner will be displayed under the great staircase in the Grand Palais. Once again this year, FIAC will also be spilling onto the streets with its “Hors les Murs” (Beyond the Walls) agenda that will present events in the Jardin des Tuileries, the Jardin des Plantes, in the Place Vendôme and along the banks of the Seine.

by LE BHV MARAIS

FIAC 2015 DRAWS CROWDS ON VIP DAY.
Collectors and art lovers surged into the Grand Palais Wednesday for the opening of the 42nd edition of FIAC in Paris. Only the V-VIPs – that is, high-spending collectors – were let into the fair Wednesday morning, but by the time the next rung of notables began the afternoon preview, swarms of people already clogged the aisles between booths, making circulation slow-going. With 170 galleries from 22 countries, FIAC brought the usual suspects like Gagosian Gallery, Paula Cooper, Galerie Perrotin, Pace and White Cube, as well as some bright ideas from the likes of Spruth Mägers, which used its booth to envision the home of a French collector (smooth) with a Sterling Ruby Mobile and Louise Lawler wall piece specially made for the booth.
• Paris gallerist Chantal Crousel was in her typical space, front-and-center at the entrance. Among her showing was an Elizabeth Peyton watercolor portrait, an ominous totem sculpture by Roberto Cuoghi, and Mona Hatoum’s “Hair and There” (2004). Director Marie Laure Gilles noted sales at Frieze had been slower the week before, but with most of the gallery’s collectors based in Paris the gallery was now welcoming many familiar faces, along with new clients. “FIAC is always very good to us,” she said. Interestingly, Gilles also noted a significant uptick in Chinese collectors at the fair this year.
• It was the opposite case for Lisson Gallery, according to Ossian Ward, head of content for the London art dealer. “It was more frenzied at Frieze. Sales the first day were just boom, boom, boom,” he said. Still, the gallery wasn’t faring too poorly on the first day of FIAC. Ward said sales and negotiations were steady, as it had sold all of its paintings by Stanley Whitney, who will make his debut in the gallery’s Milan branch this month. Lisson was also showing Anish Kapoor’s new burgundy fiberglass sculpture blooming from the corner. The gallery has double duty this week, as Ward said a team had been dispatched to assess the latest damage to Kapoor’s “Dirty Corner” at Versailles. Ward added that some Frieze-goers may have been more hesitant to “pull the trigger” in London, keeping in mind that there would be more to see across the channel in Paris the next week. That could be less of a concern next year when Frieze moves up to early October. Perhaps the choice of fair will inform the type of collector, as one FIAC gallerist said Frieze feels more commercial, whereas the Paris fair operated on a more intellectual level.
• Zurich gallery Hauser & Wirth brought a thoughtful collection inspired by Charlie Hebdo. Director Fiona Romer kept asking visitors to stop picking up copies of the French satirical paper’s emblematic post-attack edition stacked at the center of the booth. Though it’s not an artwork for sale, it is part of the installation. Romer said the gallery noticed many of its artists were politically active or had social messages, such as Mark Bradford and Ellen Gallagher. Curator Paul Schimmel wanted to express that artists need to be free to reflect society. “FIAC brings more statement booths than Frieze,” Romer said. Although Romer said she has started to see some collectors choosing to skip Frieze and attend only FIAC, she emphasized that “both fairs are valuable and needed.”
• As Frieze continues to expand its programming and satellite fairs, FIAC carries on under the banner of French indifference. FIAC director Jennifer Flay hoisted the fair out of turmoil when she took the helm 11 years ago and has used the steady footing to invest in the public offering. She has always made a point that FIAC is not an ivory tower fair only for dealers and buyers, but a citywide celebration of contemporary art designed with the public in mind, as seen with the Hors les Murs and Officielle programming. Ward from Lisson sums up that egalitarian forum feeling, noting that, “FIAC is just as much a feast for the viewers as it is for the collectors.” Despite speculation of “war fair” between Paris and London, and that high-selling Frieze could potentially endanger FIAC’s future, there is no sign that FIAC is at all interested in competition. If it’s true that age imbues confidence, then FIAC is looking good at 42.

by Jake Cigainero, BLOUINARTINFO

1. Grand Palais. FIAC ’15