3.2.10

Contemporary Art

Last Friday, a rainy and cold afternoon, I decided to visit an exposition of Contemporary Art. It took place at what used to be a warehouse, Halle de Freysinnet, one of the few old buildings left in an old mostly industrial area which is under full transformation. You will find it just behind the Bibilothèque François Mitterrand, built in 1994 and now the major site for the French National Library.
As I said, it was rainy and cold and the atmosphere did not help to make these library buildings look really attractive.
On my way to the exposition I found some examples of a new design of benches. I tried one... for a very short moment! :-)

To reach the exposition place, Halle de Freysinnet, you have to cross the railway tracks leading to and from Gare d’Austerlitz (see previous post). The warehouse or hall dates from 1927, got its name from its creator, an engineer who invented the “prestressed concrete”. The hall has recently been transformed to house expositions and other events. It’s actually used also for fashion shows (Galliano, Nina Ricci, Lanvin, Hermès...).

The exposition proposed a number of works by more or less well-known artists.

One of them (Karl Gietl) had made his own interpretations of da Vinci’s “La Gioconda” (2.700 € = 3.800 US$) and of Goya’s “El Très del Mayo” (12.500€ = 17.500 US$).

This exposition lasted only a few days and is now over.

In another part of the hall there was another exposition, of a Russian painter, Paul Chmaroff (1874-1950), which lasts until February 14. This is part of the “2010 France – Russia” cultural exchange program. Paul Chmaroff is referred to as the “Russian Renoir”. He worked before the 1917 Revolution at the Russian Royal Court (painted the Royal family), before leaving for Rome and then for Paris.

38 comments:

Catherine said...

looks like an interesting exhibition to visit - although am not sure at all about the new Mona lisa!! like the way that the colour of the art contrasts with the grey of the rainy day and buildings in Paris that day...

Ruth said...

I love to see big old warehouses used for art. It must be interesting to walk over the railroad tracks like that.

I don't think I'll ever look at La Giaconda the same again!

Louis la Vache said...

Very good, Peter!
When «Louis» lived in Paris, he didn't visit that part of town and he didn't know about this museum. However, he thinks he saw the home of the man who invented the prestressed concrete in one of the suburbs on the southwest side of Paris.

Rakesh Vanamali said...

Contemporary art surely is very appealing and certainly very different too! Good pictures!

Virginia said...

WEll now.... I wonder what Leonardo would have to say about THAT! Hmmm. The Russian exhibit I find a little more to my liking. I remember now seeing banners hanging on the Louvre about Russian art as well. And as for those "benches" I see the photographer tried one. I'll bet I couldn't have gotten on one....too high! Good shot Peter. :)
V

alice said...

La vie est dure pour les blogueurs en hiver, il faudrait inventer des bancs chauffants!

hpy said...

C'est sans doute à cause du béton que la halle s'appelle Freyssinet.
Je ne sais pas trop si j'apprécie les oeuvres de ton premier artiste.

Olivier said...

j'adore les premières photos, ville fantôme, sans âme, un univers qui fait penser a "buffet froid"

Claudia said...

I can't believe the prices on those Karl Gietl pieces. I wouldn't have one if it was given to me for free... There's no accounting for taste.

Shionge said...

Hiya Peter...thank you so much for always 'checking' on me :D Truly appreciate that.

I think this is pretty neat and cool exhibition except for the one on Mona Lisa...:( I preferred the original :)

Anonymous said...

It never occurred to me that Mona would be carrying all that under her garment.
And, loved the glimpse of you in the wavy glass!:-)

Jim

Bagman and Butler said...

You are having way too much fun! Is there any part of Paris that you have not seen? And that Mona Lisa is fabulous! Thanks for sending her out in the world.

Karin B (Looking for Ballast) said...

Wonderful stuff, Peter. I have been to the area near the Bibliothèque and taken a photo very similar to one of your own up there! I kind of like the fact that the light is grey in those photos. They look more like B&W ones as a result.

I love the irreverence that can occur with contemporary art -- like the Mona Lisa up there, as well as the Goya interpretation. Thanks for sharing those!

The Paul Chmaroff works are especially lovely, I think.

Simony said...

It has been a pleasure to see this beautiful city through your eyes!
Very good blog!

claude said...

Je poréfère la peinture du peintre Russe que les De vinci et goya revisité. Mon Dieu, et c'est cher en plus !!!

Cergie said...

Je me verrais bien avec cet engin volant pendant du plafond de mon entrée... Extra.
(Tu n'as pas traversé directement sur les voies tout de même ?)

Alain said...

Moi, C'est la Joconde new style qui me plait bien.

Cheryl said...

Love the top photo! Not sure I'd love all the contemporary art, but it would be really interesting to walk around there looking at all the different artworks. Looks like there's always something interesting on in Paris. If I were there now though I'd travel to Angouleme for the comic book festival!

Starman said...

We know this area pretty good, we rented an apartment on rue Raymond Aron just across the street from the ouest entrance to the bibliothèque. Of course, it was still just an old warehouse when we were there, but there was building going on in the area.

Catherine said...

Oui...les alentours de la Bibliothèque FM sont loin d'être un endroit acceuillant ou convivial pour flaner....ou même se poser. Ces lames d'acier me font penser à une table d'autopsie !
Par ailleurs, copier un Goya ou un De Vinci à l'identique n'aurait aucun intérêt.....alors j'excuse la supercherie....pour chez les autres.
Et puis, tu as été récompensé à la fin....

cathyswatercolors said...

Hi Peter, nice art,but i really love the sign.The light bulbs give it a vintage look. thanks for sharing and happy adventures to you:)

amatamari© said...

Discover and know Paris so well,
see a gallery with the Mona Lisa new style, walk with you, and even sit on the bench ...
Thanks, tireless and precise, rich
of info and news: yours is such a great blog!
:-)

Cezar and Léia said...

Interesting post dear Peter!Sometimes funny sometimes dramatic! :)
I liked a lot the work of Paul Chmaroff, thanks for introducing his art! :)
Hugs
Léia

arabesque said...

hi peter, such a remarkable post.
i like Mr. Gietl's arts, very quirky and funny. ^0^

margarida said...

Peter, do you know him:
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/mats-eriksson.html

Trotter said...

It's amazing that the Freysinnet is still there. The exhibition looks quite exciting!!

PeterParis said...

Catherine:
I was expecting different opinions on this Mona Lisa! :-)

Ruth:
... and if she really looked like this? :-)

Louis la Vache:
It was still a warehouse until recently. Yes, Freyssinet created several buildings and a few remain. :-)

PeterParis said...

V Rakesh:
A lot is good, not all, but you must try to look at it positively! Not easy to be an artist! :-)

Virginia:
I think you could try it, but not stay long! :-)

Alice:
Heureusement les cafés restent ouverts! :-)

PeterParis said...

hpy:
Il est évident que les opinions sur ses œuvres peuvent varier! :-)

Olivier:
Merci, j'ai donc choisi la bonne pour mettre en haut! :-)

Claudia:
As you say, the taste... ! :-)

PeterParis said...

Shionge:
This one is expensive, but I believe the other one would be difficult to buy! :-)

Designslinger:
Bad news? :-)

Bagman and Butler:
There are some 6 or 7000 streets, some 200 churches... :-)

PeterParis said...

Karin:
I believe that with better weather and more people around, it would be possible to make the library look a bit more attractive! :-)

Simony Silva:
Thanks for your visit here and your nice words! Welcome back! :-)

Claude:
Tu m'étonnes! :-)

PeterParis said...

Cergie:
Heureusement qu'ils ont pensé à construire des ponts! :-)

Alain:
Voilà une vote pour! :-)

Cheryl:
Yes, Angoulème would be something for you I believe! :-)

PeterParis said...

Starman:
Your latest flat in Paris was certainly more niceley situated! :-)

Catherine:
Alors, allons nous promener ailleurs! :-)

shicat:
Nice, if I chose the right photo on top! :-)

PeterParis said...

Amatamari:
(Would be) happy to make a walk around Paris with you! :-)

Léia:
I was also much impressed by Chmaroff! :-)

Arabesque:
Another vote in his favour! :-)

PeterParis said...

Margarida:
No, but I will have a look! :-)

Trotter:
I believe it's now there to stay! :-)

margarida said...

http://criativemo-nos.blogspot.com/2010/02/swedish-connection-strikes-again.html
Hug for you :)

PeterParis said...

Margarida:
Thanks for the connection! Hugs!! :-)

Nitheesh said...

congrats! keep up the good work/this is a great presentation.


Contemporary Art