When I think Paris in terms of Art, I instinctively think “Louvre” or “Musee D’Orsay”. Or Tour Eiffel. But that’s not exactly Art.

All those museums recall oil paintings on canvas, Mona Lisa and very classical statues. Aching feet because of the extensive surface covered and that typical smell of “oldish” like in an antique shop. When you think Paris, you most probably think romance, not necessarily contemporary art. All the more, these reasons add up to create the disbelieving effect and reaction I get after one day of FIAC. Paris is certainly all the above and above all contemporary. In the broadest artsy sense of the word.

The pics shown today will be done by *artemporary’s contributor and photographer Till Bitterli.

It is Day 2 in Paris and the sun is still hiding somewhere. No rainbow either. But lots of excitement for the day ahead, as Till has arrived the night before and we have made the plan for the Saturday. After a brief business breakfast, made of croissant and pictures ideas/guidelines for the day, we move on and head straight to Jardin des Plantes/National Musuem of Natural History (NMNH) of Paris. 

This year, this very special and enchanted location is hosting part of the FIAC &(OFF)ICIELLE program, i.e. outdoors and indoors works taking temporary residence in the meadows and fountains of the “Jardin” and in the most magical corners and alleys of the NMNH.

After a brisk walk in the park of the Jardin des Plantes and its fairy temporary installations, we move on to the Grande Galerie de l’Evolution, home to the biggest mammal’s skeletons and many other scary and less scary taxidermised animals. This place looks really enchanted.

After this ‘off’ the main path excursion, it is time to go back to the main stage –  Le Grand Palais.

As it naturally is on weekends, the cue outside the building has been constant and growing: Art really seems to steer the interest of a vast crowd, no matter how deep your pocket is. Watching is free, and the majority of the people attending the event seem to be too absorbed in looking shabby chic rather than expensive. C’est la vie!

After yesterday’s ground floor, it is today time to explore the upper side of the building: a string of corridor surrounding the perimeter of the Palais. There I find new and well known galleries, many interesting ones and a heat that I feel in Palm Springs. “It was freezing cold yesterday”, explains a gallerist from London, “therefore they turned on these heating on the roof today”. But today is not as cold as yesterday, and the results is that many visitors are really red or heavily sweating. Ooops! The French touch.

Between a talk, a chat and other stories, it is almost time to go… so many beautiful works at this FIAC 2014 that it’s hard to leave. Before taking our leave though, I go and bid farewell to the ladies working at Galleria Massimo de Carlo (Milan).

Everyone around looks a bit battered and tired… Nevertheless the old palace is still crowded until the very end.

Another day and many other stories and a lot to tell. One post would not be enough. But I hope that today’s report has given the idea of how exciting and beautiful, yet pretentious and artificial, the world of Art is. If you ask me, no world is innocent and pure (ask me… I work in the financial services sector!). Yet Art has become more about status and power than ever before. Art is the new solid investment that every person must have in order to be defined wealthy in a classy way. It is now trendy to sponsor and buy Art. But what is done for the Arts’ sake is actually hard to define.

Au Revoir from Paris and… stay tuned for tomorrow’s last day, Day 3 FIAC’s Art Diary.

With Love from Paris

Carmela Tfr @artemporary

All pics: © Till Bitterli @artemporary – all rights reserved.

PRIVACY NOTE

Pictures and portraits during this international event have been taken in order to document the event. If you have been portrayed or caught in one or more pics on this post and I you are not ok with it, please do contact me immediately – the post will be amended accordingly.