It is Sunday, the last day of the FIAC 2014 in Paris.

For the past two days, *artemporary has been visiting literally all the art stands and corners in the Grand Palais, as well as the off-site at the National Museum of Natural History. So Sunday is time to visit the third and last site: the Jardin des Tuileries.

It is cold again and it does not make the perfect weather for outdoors activities… Nevertheless people seem little or less affected by it. Halloween is approaching, and I had no idea it was such a big thing in Paris! Families of Star Wars and Tele Tubbies can be easily found around the park, which look particularly coloured on such a grim day.

The more I wander around the park, the more I feel I am on a treasure-hunt… with my map and my instinct, I try to figure which one is going to be the alley, fountain or spot where the next work of art is going to be. The place itself seems somehow to be an ideal temporary residence for these masterpieces, and most probably this must be one of the reasons why this is the consecutive 9th year of this happening. This work has been realised by FIAC & (OFF)ICIELLE together with the Domaine National du Louvre et des Tuileries, also following the enthusiasm shown both by gallerists presenting those works and their artists. I could not agree more!

The installation from Christian Boltanski, one of my favourite artists, is particularly touching, as all those little bells shaken by the wind were making a melancholic sound… like of childhood and lost memories. Enchanting!

As the tour is over, I realise I need to hurry to go fetch my little pink luggage  and run to the station. This day has been particularly short, but the tour at this garden has been probably my favourite bit.

Worse than the weather has been only one think: the Parisian attitude. One episode at a very (supposedly) chic café nearby the park has slightly ruined my last day: if you want to drink a coffee sitting at a table, a customer should definitely not be asked “how long will it take you to drink the coffee”…. I do not speak French but I understand it, but this is not enough to address local people from Paris without making them rolling their eyes or snorting at you. Shame shame. And I thought it was only a cliche and a legend…. nope, all true!

Despite the sad little episode and focusing on Art matters , I have to admit that the quality of the works seen at the fair was remarkable. A really interesting parisian weekend… I hope that when I will visit next year, my French will be better!

This is all from Paris for this 2014… à la prochaine!

Carmela Tfr @artemporary

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.