An all-nighter dazzling romantic quest: Paris Nuit Blanche art festival
Some festivals seems to have truly earned their name. Paris nuit blanche art festival sees the city awashed with magnificent art pieces and manifestations. This year’s 15th edition rocks art in the city in jaw-dropping style. I set off with 4 friends. With this playfulness also comes un joyful state of mind. Armed with our guide book and a decent supply of nibbles, we join the crowd. We kick off at the city’s town hall for what promises to be a night of enchantement.
It’s all about love for this year’s nuit blanche art festival
I has been so for the past 15 years. Every first saturday of October, Paris nuit blanche art festival illuminates the city. From 7pm to 7am, an impressive display of musical and artistic events spreads across Paris. Churches; streets; art galleries; theatres; stations, pick your favourite. It’s a festival of arts and culture that has now migrated across cities worldwide. For example London, Toronto or Kyoto. To add to the fun, directors and locations change every year. For this year’s cutting-edge art affair, love leads the way.
We embark on a medieval, modern and futuristic Paris. The story is articulated around 12 chapters. The route along the river Seine from East Paris (gare de Lyon) to the west (Ile st Germain) is an invitation to live the love quest. That of Poliphilus, a fictional 15th century Italian character.
Contemporary artsy things; installations; paintings; sculptures… The river scene is beautified and transformed into an outdoor gallery. The atmosphere in cafés in exhilarating. An amazing and inspiring experience, truly. Expect nothing but bedazzlement.
A different take on the city of love through the lenses of contemporary art
We stroll cobbled streets. Big avenues. Narrow alleyways. We meander through the throng. Within moments, we are dissolved into joyful laughter. Helpless art critics. Fervent admirers. We spend hours jumping from one gallery to the other in an effort to capture it all. This is also the perfect occasion to view the city in a striking light.
Oliver Beer’s Live stream. An exhibition of light, voices and non identified sound at the base of Le pont des Arts
Anish Kapoor’s vortex in the river Seine. Gripping!
The conciergerie collapsing in the river Seine, by Pierre Delavie’s Cote 15,28: l’amour deborde
Stephane Thidet’s sommeil. An enchanting forest of living sculptures in perpetual movement
The bewitching Le Crazy Horse Paris’ muses
The family, including Polia, Poliphilus’ love, is waiting for him to arrive. The work is inspired by a print from the 15th century
Erwin Olaf’s L’Eveil: Slow motion videos of animated faces and bodies stretching out
In the mist of dreams, a fire extinguisher’s ballet. By Geraldine Py and Roberto Verde’s La Reserve
A workshop of broken hearts. Jean-Marc Ferrari and Estelle Delesalle’s La fabrique des coeurs brisés
The continuous cycle of birth, death, metamorphosis and resurrection of the body by Gwenael Morin’s Le sermont sur la mort de Jacques-Benigne Bossuet
A sea crossing piece by Matthew Barney’s Drawing restraint 15
Patrick Neu’s Couronne d’épine en Crystal
Additional info via palais de tokyo, que faire Paris or the city’s facebook page. I am so looking forward to next year’s edition.
xoxo M. Let’s share our inspiration
