Two themes will be present at Art Paris: «Art & Commitment, a Focus on the French Scene», curated by Marc Donnadieu, and «Exile: Dispossession and Resistance», curated by Amanda Abi Khalil
Art Paris, 25th edition
The Grand Palais Éphémère, in the heart of Paris, will welcome Art Paris from March 30 to April 2, 2023, for the 25th edition of the fair. Two themes will be present in this year’s anniversary edition: Art & Commitment. A Focus on the French Scene, curated by Marc Donnadieu, and Exile: Dispossession and Resistance, curated by Amanda Abi Khalil.
Guests for the 25th anniversary party will dance to the sound of art through DJ sets and artistic performances by POUSH, which Fair director Guilliaume Piens described as « a venture dedicated to contemporary creation in Aubervilliers, France ».
Art Paris by France Conventions
Founded in 1999, Art Paris is organized by France Conventions, which happens to be a family-run business by the owners Julien and Valentine Lecête. It’s also one of the few remaining global art fairs one family runs. Art Paris has transformed into a leading art event set in the springtime in Paris to be an innovative art fair that allows for discovery with a context in contemporary art.
Art & Commitment and Exile: Dispossession and Resistance
The two themes, Art & Commitment and Exile: Dispossession and Resistance, were created as a societal reflection of what’s currently happening in our world, between Russia’s unprovoked war on Ukraine and totalitarian governments. Together, the represented themes and works allow visitors to step back and think. « The themes are reappearing in different areas of the globe, and identity-based conflicts threaten social cohesion and the spirit of democracy », explained Piens. He continued alluding to the fact that the challenges of migration and the climate crisis currently weighing on our shoulders also contributed.
The Art & Commitment section – curated by Marc Donnadieu
The Art & Commitment section was curated by Marc Donnadieu and visitors can marvel at his perspective of the French art scene, with 20 various artists spanning different generations on display. Here, all concentration is on the approach; Donnadieu explores the artist’s approach to the concept of commitment. Commitment in the fullest meaning of the word, from commitment to art, artworks, our planet, history, and what is currently going on around us, no matter where we are.
Within Donnadieu’s section of works, the public can find American painter and feminist artist Nancy Spero’s You Bear the Stigma – Artaud Codex.Another piece Mr. Piens pointed out is a black and white portrait of African women by Cameroonian Angèle Etoundi Assamba and a drawing created by Afghan refugee artist Kubra Khademi, « which exalts the voice of women and their emancipatory struggles », claimed Mr. Peins. This exhibition will have an international presence.
« If art doesn’t change the world, some works of art do resist and, in their own way, counter the attacks to which the world is subjected. Such works make us more clairvoyant; they foster empathy and emancipation, obliging us to open our eyes to art, the world, its history, and current events. I want to put this commitment made by artists and their art in the spotlight and contrast with the obscurity that is darkening the outlook today».
Exile: Dispossession and Resistance – curated by Amanda Abi Khalil
Beirut-based independent curator Amanda Abi Khalil shines a light on a selection of eighteen international artists, hailing from exhibiting galleries whose work addresses questions concerning Exile for the second theme of Exile: Dispossession and Resistance. Reflecting on the theme, Ms. Abi Khalil believes that leaving a place doesn’t necessarily mean that person is no longer there; whether Exile was forced or chosen, it’s always something to be ensured.
She stated, « Exile highlights our ties with the people and places that give rise to the feeling of dispossession and transforms the remains of this other place into a condition of survival. These remains anchor us in the non-places we are trying in vain to reach. In the current context of tensions caused by migration, which is exacerbated by wars, economic and climate crises amongst other reasons. »
This theme was designed to address the character of Exile and understand it above and beyond geographical and identity-based connotations. The curator stated, « Highlighted in artistic practices dealing with notions of hospitality, our relationship to others and feelings of strangeness, in an art world that often celebrates the mobility of artists, this theme allows accents to have the floor. »
2023 edition of Art Paris
The 2023 edition of Art Paris will include 134 galleries, 43 of which are new. Mr. Piens highlighted that certain galleries, such as Almine Rech, Continua, Lelong & Co., Mennour, Perrotin, Tempon, and Nathalie Obadia, will be present. Among the new galleries, entities such as AMS from Chile, Afriart from Uganda, and Lebanese gallery Saleh Barakat will be at the event.
In the general sector, there will be sixteen monographic exhibitions, twelve duo shows, and solos. « Some of the solo show highlights include Galerie Françoise Livinec, where we rediscover biomorphic abstraction as practiced by pioneering feminist artist Louise Barbu, whose work was first exhibited in 1974 by the legendary Iris Clert ». Piens topped it off by sharing that Galerie Tanit will celebrate Arcangelo, « a key figure of the Italian school in the 80s with a mini retrospective. »
An immersive installation by Andrea Galvini
Visitors will be thrown into an immersive installation by Andrea Galvini in the booth of Galerie Fabienne Levy, which combines photography, video, drawing, and a neon sculpture that questions the notation of time. Meanwhile, Galerie Derouillon’s Alexandre Benjamin Navet will invite visitors to discover a vivid, colorful atmosphere with an immersive in situ presentation.
René Magritte and Marcel Mariën at Galerie Retele
« Among the duo shows, I can’t wait to discover the historical dialogue between two Belgian surrealists, René Magritte and Marcel Mariën at Galerie Retelet », exclaimed Mr. Piens. He continued to highlight Act of Resistance at Gaep Gallery, with Romanian Artist Mircea Stănescu and Croatian artist Damir Očko, who use collages as, from their point of view, the most appropriate medium to express an « indistinctive discontent, the reflex of bankrupt existentialism ».
The ‘Promises’ sector – supporting young galleries and emerging artists.
The ‘Promises’ sector is dedicated to supporting young galleries and emerging artists. It was created six years ago, and its goal, aside from supporting up-and-coming talent, is to provide a contemporary analysis of cutting-edge contemporary art. The participating galleries can present up to three emerging artists, and Art Paris backs forty-five percent of the exhibitor fees to enter. This sector has a heavy presence of international galleries constantly renewing exhibitors.
Selecting the Talent for Art Paris
Mr. Piens described the selection as a « complex alchemy; it primarily reflects the fair’s strategy of being a regional and cosmopolitan discovery-oriented fair that gives significant visibility to the French scene, while taking an interest in other artistic scents from all over the world. » Art Paris received over 350 applications for 134 booths this year alone. The decision-making process is rigorous and coherent with specific projects.
« The Paris Art team travels to meet the galleries and foster interesting projects for the fair. The selection committee, composed mainly of art dealers, some of whom have been there for several years, selects according to different criteria », explains Mr. Piens. While selecting, the team pays attention to the originality of the given project, the quality of the gallery’s work, and the artists it represents to make a decision.
LCA – a tool for measuring the environmental impact of a product or service
Recently, Art Paris adopted a sustainable life cycle analysis-based approach. Mr. Piens explained, « LCA is the most advanced tool for measuring the environmental impact of a product or service. It considers many criteria to provide a global analysis, listing and quantifying the materials and energy used. By opting for a life cycle assessment, Art Paris reduced by almost half the quantity of waste produced. »
Art Paris
Art Paris will celebrate its 25th anniversary during the 2023 edition of the fair, from March 30 to April 2, 2023, at the Grand Palais Éphémère in Paris, France, under the direction of Guillaume Piens.
