The numerous museums and prestigious events devoted to artistic creation that attract artists, gallery owners and collectors from all over the world make Paris a major capital for contemporary art. Evidence of this can be seen every day in the Parisian streets, avenues and public squares.
The FIAC, the best of contemporary art in Paris Art fans, young art history students, experienced collectors, well-known artists or the simply curious, all gather at the FIAC (the international contemporary art fair), for different reasons, whether it is to enjoy the great diversity of works on show, keeping up to date with changes in the market or even to make a few purchases … This 36th event takes place from 22 to 25 October on two complementary sites. The Grand Palais near to the ChampsÉlysées, plays host to the big names in modern and contemporary art. Works by Picasso, Warhol, but also those by Tony Cragg, George Condo and Rachel Whiteread are shown together under the biggest glass roof in Europe, the nave of the Grand Palais, a listed historic monument.
The building also houses thematic exhibitions (Italian art of the 20th century, art and machines, German expressionism, etc.), as well as numerous shared stands on special projects. Of note and a major element of the programme is the “modern project”: eight galleries from among the most prestigious modern art galleries in Paris, New York, Zurich and Geneva put on a joint display of an ensemble of historically important works, over a surface area of more than 300 m2. The scenography has been entrusted to the architect Jean-François Bodin, responsible for the layouts at the Musée national d’Art moderne at the Centre Pompidou.
The Cour carrée at the Louvre, next to the courtyard with the famous pyramid, will host 80 galleries under a big top essentially devoted to emerging creations, young artists and design; a sector which has begun to find its place in contemporary art fairs since it was integrated into the stands at the FIAC for the first time in 2004. This second exhibition space is characterized by support for innovation, notably with the awarding of two prizes for excellence. The new prix Lafayette, in partnership with the Galeries Lafayette, brings together 14 galleries recognized for the remarkable scope of their prospective actions. The work to receive the most votes will be the focus of an exhibition. In a similar spirit of promotion of upcoming talent, the much-coveted prix Marcel-Duchamp will be awarded on October 24th. At the initiative of the ADIAF (association for the international dissemination of French art), the most important group of private collectors in France, the event rewards the prizewinner with a two month exhibition at the Centre Pompidou.
Around the FIAC and two special sites are related events: outside, the Tuileries whose gardens are already studded with eminent sculpture (Giacometti, Dietman, Penone) will play host to contemporary works created especially for the event; inside, at the auditorium of the Musée du Louvre, with the Ouverture/Opening, which questions the relationship between the visual arts and music through artistic performance.
FIAC, from Thursday, 22 to Sunday, 25 October 2009
• Grand Palais
Av. Winston-Churchill, Paris 8th
www.fiac.com
• Cour carrée du Louvre
Rue de Rivoli, Paris 1st
www.fiac.com
