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5 must-see art exhibits in Paris in spring 2019

5 must-see art exhibits in Paris in spring 2019

Springtime is nearly here which means exhibits are flourishing! Musement takes a look at five not-to-miss spring exhibitions in Paris.

No matter where you explore or what you seek, culture in Paris is always abloom, and you can always find a way to nurture your mind. From permanent exhibitions at some of the greatest museums in the world like the Louvre or Orsay Museum to smaller art galleries, street art, theatrical performances, and concerts, Paris always offers plenty to do! Here’s a look at five temporary exhibitions in spring 2019 that are worth a visit.

1. “Black Models: From Géricault to Matisse” – Musée d’Orsay

This exhibition examines the representation of black figures in the visual arts from the time France abolished slavery in 1815 to the present, focusing on the dialogue and relationship between artist and model. Through contemplation of major works by artists such as Géricault, Manet, Cézanne, Matisse—but also Afro-American contemporaries Romare Bearden and Faith Ringgold and photographers Nadar and Carjat—visitors can wonder over the evolution of how black subjects were represented and, therefore, ideas over the last two centuries.
When: March 26-July 14, 2019

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Du 4 au 7 avril 2019, @abdalmalikmusic est l’invité du musée d’Orsay. À l’occasion de l’exposition "Le modèle noir de Géricault à Matisse" (26 mars – 21 juillet 2019), le célèbre poète, rappeur, slameur et essayiste y présentera sur la scène de l’auditorium son nouveau spectacle inspiré du tableau "Le Jeune Noir à l’épée" (1850) de Puvis de Chavannes et conçu avec le chorégraphe burkinabé Salia Sanou. 🎟 Réservations sur Fnac.com (lien dans la bio) . 📚💿 De cette rencontre est également né un livre-CD retraçant l’histoire du "Jeune Noir à l’épée". . "L'histoire de ce jeune noir est entrecoupée, fractionnée. C'est une rébellion rythmée, déclamée, rappée, slamée et chantée sur une musique noire, blanche, métisse, ancienne et moderne, faite de fragments mélodiques, d'échantillons musicaux disparates, dont la mise en relation accidentelle et inattendue verra surgir, contre toute attente, du nouveau et de l'harmonieux. Ceci comme allégorie du cheminement du jeune noir de cette histoire et de ces nouvelles générations, dont je fais partie, nées en Europe et dont les racines s'originent sur le continent africain ancestral." (Abd Al Malik). . Spectacle produit par @decibelsprod en partenariat avec le @theatredelaville_paris. Ouvrage coédité par @presenceafricaine, le musée d’Orsay et @flammarionlivres. . #hiphop #artcontemporain #peinture #poesie #rap #litterature #slam #dansecontemporaine #abdalmalik #modelenoir #museedorsay #museeorsay #orsaymuseum #artmuseum #artgallery #fineart #beauxarts #artexhibition #art #museum #painting #exposition #exhibition . Photo : © Fabien Coste

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2. “An Electro Dream, from Kraftwerk to Daft Punk” – Paris Philharmonia

Are you a night owl? Do you love swaying to the sounds of Bob Moog or Juan Atkins? Well, if you wish to learn a little more about the history of electronic music, from its birth in the underground clubs of Chicago and Detroit more than thirty years ago to the present, go to the Paris Philharmonia for “An Electro Dream, from Kraftwerk to Daft Punk.” The exhibition analyzes the electro cultural phenomenon and decrypts its political and counter-cultural dimension through images of changes within society. The multi-sensory experience is accompanied by a soundtrack entrusted to the famous DJ Laurent Garnier.
When: April 9-August 11, 2019

3. Vasarely, Sharing Forms – Center Pompidou

Vasarely and optical art! Through approximately 300 pieces of Vasarely that include paintings, sculptures, and advertising, this exhibition traces the path of the founding father of “op art” from its beginnings in the footsteps of the Bauhaus movement to its latest innovations. The exhibition at the Centre Pompidou is a unique opportunity to dive into the world of a popular artist who particularly marked the culture and society of the sixties and seventies, a veritable reincarnation of imagination from the Glorious Thirties.
When: February 6-May 6, 2019

4. Hammershø, the master of Danish painting – Musée Jacquemart-André

In addition to its standard treasures, the evocative Jacquemart-André Museum will offer an exhibition dedicated to the works of Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi and his dreamy, solitary universe characterized by stripped silence and mysterious atmosphere. For the first time, the spotlight will be put on the link between the artist and his entourage. To better penetrate his world, Vilhelm Hammershøi’s works will be contrasted with paintings from others close to him, including his brother Svend Hammershøi, brother-in-law Peter Ilsted, and friend Carl Holsøe.
When: March 14-July 22, 2019

5. Franz Marc and August Macke, 1909-1914 – Musee de l’orangerie

Uncover the history of the German Expressionist movement via the works of Franz Marc and August Macke, two key figures of the Der Blaue Reiter movement. This exhibition at the Musee de l’orangerie traces their entire journey, from the beginning of their friendship in Paris, walking in the footsteps of French artists until their mobilization in 1914 which marked the end of their lives and therefore their career. The exhibition allows visitors to follow the evolution of their art punctuated by important dates: 1910 and their stay in Paris, and then 1911 and their meeting with Vassily Kandinsky, who marked a turning point in their painting and the birth of the famous little blue horses by Franz Marc, inspiring the choice of the name of their group of artists, Der Blaue Reiter, or “Blue Rider.” Finally, 1913 marks the transition to abstraction for Franz Marc, and 1914 is the year of a particularly remarkable journey that August Macke undertook in Tunisia alongside Paul Klee and Louis Moilliet.
When: March 6-June 17, 2019

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– "I step into the painting of the four blue horses. I am not even surprised that I can do this. – – One of the horses walks toward me. His blue nose noses me lightly. I put my arm over his blue mane, not holding on, just commingling. He allows me my pleasure. Franz Marc died a young man, shrapnel in his brain. I would rather die than explain to the blue horses what war is. They would either faint in horror, or simply find it impossible to believe. I do not know how to thank you, Franz Marc. Maybe our world will grow kinder eventually. Maybe the desire to make something beautiful is the piece of God that is inside each of us. Now all four horses have come closer, are bending their faces toward me as if they have secrets to tell. I don’t expect them to speak, and they don’t. If being so beautiful isn’t enough, what could they possibly say?" – – – – MARY OLIVER, 'Blue Horses' – – – Franz Marc was one of the key figures of the German Expressionist movement. In 1910, along with Wassily Kandinsky, he was a founding member of 'Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider)', a journal whose name became synonymous with the development of German Expressionism. With the outbreak of World War I, Marc was drafted into the German Army as a cavalryman. By 1916, the government had identified notable artists to be withdrawn from combat for their own safety. Marc was on the list but was struck in the head and killed instantly by a shell splinter during the Battle of Verdun in 1916 before orders for reassignment could reach him. Marc aspired to a spiritually-pure animal world. His work is characterized by bright primary color, an almost cubist portrayal of animals, stark simplicity and a profound intensity of emotion. Influenced by Van Gogh, Marc gave an emotional meaning to colors: blue was used to portray masculinity and spirituality, yellow represented feminine joy, and red the resonance of violence. The rounded forms of his horses evoked a harmonious whole. – – FRANZ MARC was born today, 8 February 1880. – – – FRANZ MARC, 'Large Blue Horses', 1911. Walker Art Center, Minneapolis. – – #franzmarc #bluehorses @walkerartcenter #maryoliver #poemfortheday

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Photo credit: jean louis mazieres on Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-SA

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