Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain
DAIDO MORIYAMA and FERNELL FRANCO at the Cartier Foundation
Feb 6 – June 5
Forced to flee Colombia as a child, Franco grew up in Cali, learning the skills he’d use later as a photojournalist whilst working as a bicycle courier for a photography studio. He was an avid movie fan, often going several times a day. His photos, and this retrospective exhibition CALI CLAIR–OBSCUR, document the emerging art scene in Cali in the 1970’s.
Starkly contrasting Franco’s black and white documentary images is the large collection of vivid imagery by Daido Moriyama, the Japanese photographer whose work seeks to capture the frictions between tradition and modernity growing up in post WW2 Japan. DAIDO TOKYO also features a new work commissioned exclusively for the Cartier Foundation; a projection of black and white images that will transport the viewer into the heart of a bustling metropolitan city.
If you haven’t been to the Cartier Foundation before it is worth it just to see the impressive glass structure and the gardens that surround it, blurring the lines between inside and outside. Go on a sunny day to take advantage of the small cafe located in the secret garden. They also host ticketed Nomadic Nights which have those in-the-know queueing around the block.
Entrance fee: €10.50
Reduced rate (under 26): €7
Palais de Tokyo
L’AVENTURE DES DÉTAILS//THE LIGHT OF THE LIGHT//EL BRUJO//NOT NOT KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR//LA REDITE EN SOMME, NE S’AMUSE PAS DE SA RÉPÉTITION SINGULIÈRE
Feb 19 – May 16
After being closed for around three weeks the Palais de Tokyo will finally re-open for its Spring exposition. This is by far my favourite gallery in Paris, the exhibitions never fail to amaze me; be it the interactive installation last year where visitors could crawl through suspended tunnels make from scotch tape, or the gondolas last Summer that one had to steer towards the unknown without falling in the temporary lake. It’s unsurprising that the gallery has to close when the exhibitions change over as the projects are always substantial and adventurous. To celebrate the opening on Thursday entrance is free between 21h00-00h00.
This Spring season will display artwork from Jean-Michel Alberola, Florian et Michael Quistrebert, Simon Evans (below), Louidgi Beltrame and winner of the Prix Découverte 2014, Sara Favriau. Do those names mean anything to you? No, me neither, not yet anyway. But I’m sure it will be exceptional.
Entrance fee: €10
Reduced rate (under 26): €8
For the Palais I actually recommend getting a Season Pass. Go three times and it pays for itself and this gallery is a great place to spend an evening as it stays open until midnight.
A.galerie
David Bowie: The Man Who Ruled The World
Feb 18 – Apr 9
This exhibition features iconic and never before seen images of the ethereal late David Bowie by a variety of photographers (below: Markus Klinko). Located close to the Palais de Tokyo and with free entry it is well worth popping-in if you’re passing by.
Gallerie Monod
Raf Urban “Mes Femmes Fantastiques”
*Last chance to see* Ends Feb 20
Urban’s street art can be spotted all over Paris and the rest of Europe but this exhibition brings together works that honour ‘great women’ who have distinguished themselves by their political struggle, courage and emancipation. Works featuring Malala Yousufzai, Angela Davis, Grace Jones and Emma Peel will be on display. Urban most recently caught the limelight when his tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks was included in the Guardian’s list of most significant artistic tributes.
Institut de l’Aménagement et de l’Urbanisme
Humans of Paris
HONY sparked a worldwide movement and Paris’ version is showing at the Institut de l’Aménagement et de l’Urbanisme. The opening event on Thursday is already at capacity but the collection of photos and their accompanying stories will be on display for a month. Find more info here.
Jeu de Paume
Helena Almeida : Corpus
Feb 9 – May 22
Another photography exhibition but this time by a woman – YAY! Considered to be one of the greatest contemporary Portuguese artists, Helen Almeida has been building her reputation as a visual and conceptual artist since the 1970s. The exhibition considers the body, how it occupies space and the relationship between ‘being’ and ‘doing’ through paintings, photography, videos and drawings, exploring works from the 1960s up until the present day.
Full Price: 10 €
Reduced Price (under 26): 7.50 €
Maison Européenne de la Photographie
Bettina Rheims
Feb 17 – March 27
And finally it’s well worth checking out French photographer Bettina Rheims’ ‘journey’ of work on display at the European House of Photography. Famous for shooting campaigns for big name designers and celebrities for magazine covers, her obsession with women is evident in the 180 images on display; portraits of people you will undoubtedly recognise. The photos are trashy, violent, sexy, tacky, feminist…you decide. Either way Rheims will leave you questioning femininity, gender, androgyny and transsexuality.
Full Price: 8 €
Reduced Price (under 26): 4.50 €
