Paris Muse

Ugo Rondinone's 'Turn Back Time. Let's Start This Day Again.' in Jardin des Tuileries for FIAC 2010.

Anyone who doesn’t appreciate contemporary art should be advised to avoid a few Paris staples this weekend. FIAC, the annual contemporary art fair, has taken over the Grand Palais, the Jardin des Tuileries, and the Jardin des Plantes through Sunday.

Galleries from 21 countries will be represented at the Grand Palais, while contemporary sculptures rest in the gardens. Films and performances are also on the program at several venues across the city.

When: October 20 -23. Grand Palais from 12:00 – 20:00. Jardin des Tuileries from 7:30 to 11:30. Jardin des Plantes from 7:30 to 11:00.

How much: €32. €16 for under 26. Children under 12 are free. Tickets purchased at the Grand Palais entrance. (Cost only applies to Grand Palais, gardens are free.)

Visit the official site here.

Map and directions here.

Photo: dalbera

© Pierre Attrait

Le Grand Palais is inviting Spanish choreographer Blanca Li this September 23, 24 and 25 to transform the its grandiose main hall into a giant dance studio offering a variety of courses from ballet to Bollywood. The idea is to make this festive gathering an interactive event where the public can get involved. It’s a costume party, a flash-dance-mob, even a workshop. Surely you’ll find something to suit your groove shoes. Photographer Philippe Noisette has said of Blanca Li: “Honoring the circus, flamenco dancer in her spare time, a nod to hip hop, an ode to Andalusia too… Blanca Li always manages to surprise…”

The courses will be in French, but the festive spirit will be universal!

Where: The nave of the Grand Palais (follow link for map and other practical info)

When:
Friday, September 23 from 19:00-01:00
Dance Mob in partnership with Evian at the opening 19:00

Saturday, September 24 from 11:00-21:00
and from 23:00-05:00 with Radio FG Clubbing night and the participation of Club Sandwich

Sunday, September 25 from 11:00-19:00

Prices:
Adults: €12, Teens: €6, Children: Free
Night clubbing: €28

Official site

Reserve your tickets through FNAC

Some footage of Leviathan, Anish Kapoor’s contribution to Monumenta 2001 at the Grand Palais. This impressive structure is straight out of science fiction, and is truly humbling to witness. It also looks great juxtaposed with the ornate, Beaux-Arts styled surroundings of the Grand Palais. Tomorrow is the last day of the exhibit, and the Grand Palais is open until midnight, so check it out if you can.

Don’t miss the last two days of Monumenta 2011, hosted at the Grand Palais. Following on the heels of Anselm Kiefer, Richard Serra and Christian Boltanski, this year the French Ministry of Culture and Communication has invited Anish Kapoor to create something for the “monumental” space of the Grand Palais’ Nave.

Kapoor says about his work: “A single object, a single form, a single colour. My ambition is to create a space within a space that responds to the height and luminosity of the Nave at the Grand Palais. Visitors are invited to walk inside the work, to immerse themselves in colour, and it will, I hope, be a contemplative and poetic experience.”

Aptly called the Leviathan, visitors can catch this impressive work of art tomorrow, Wednesday from 10:00 to 19:00, and Thursday from 10:00 to 24:00, for €5.

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