Paris | Color, Books and Brushstrokes
With all respect to my adopted home of Rome, and my native New York, Paris is still the chicest, most livable and beautiful city in the world. Charming beauty and sweet whimsy are evident in almost every arrondissement, and creativity of all kinds surges through the streets in a quiet but colorful way. My time there has always been radically inspirational, whether it was when I had my wedding gown handmade by Diane Hamelin, or when I travelled there on a shopping trip with my mother, or when I went solo and met with friends. This last trip was more business focused, as I immersed myself in a “new world” business training with some very avant garde entrepreneurs.
In between sessions, I managed to get in some artist dates.
Bon Marché
Stepping into this historic department store always feels like entering a luxurious foreign world. I was drawn there to see the pop-up show Mis en Page by Sarah Andleman. This eclectic show/boutique/installation was inspired by the written word – an art that is perhaps underappreciated in our digital era. Books and book culture are celebrated in this show, which included merchandise about books, gorgeous books themselves and art incorporating printed pages. I am an easy target – as I love buying and making books – and ended up acquiring a photography book by RK.
Foundation Louis Vuitton + Mark Rothko
The Louis Vuitton Foundation’s Rothko show was high on my list. This architectural marvel itself was uplifting to experience. I especially enjoyed the colorful, sinuous sculpture by Katharina Grosse (called Canyon) in the atrium.
Rothko’s mesmerizing canvases, characterized by luminous colors and ethereal forms, invite one into a realm of contemplation. His early works really drew me in, as I was not familiar with them. The large colored abstract works pulsate with individual auras, stirring the depths of my imagination and provoking profound emotion. The artist’s connection with color stirs me deeply.
Musée Guimet
When I saw that the iconic calligraphic works of T’ang Haywen were showing at this precious museum, I could not miss it! While the crowds lined up for the show À la cour du Prince Genji (also a beautiful exhibit!), I headed upstairs to the special showing of this Chinese artist. I had the galleries to myself, as I perused and studied the brushstrokes in Sumi ink in works large and petit. The curation was astoundingly impactful – the black and white works were paired with bold wall colors like orange and purple. The gift shop of this museum was its own sort of museum, with imported artistic items from Japan and China.
Merci, Paris … a bientôt
