La Maison Picassiette, Chartres.

On Saturday morning I awoke with a "sense of possibility" and decided to treat myself with a day trip to Chartres, mainly for the iconic cathedral. I stumbled across this adorable little house in Chartres on Internet, and so ... I'm off on an adventure! Raymond Isidore began to build his house in Chartres in 1930 and systematically (over a period of decades) covered everything with intricate mosaics of broken crockery, painting and sculpture. For this reason,  he earned a nickname as "Picassiette", derived from 'pique' in French (to steal) and 'assiette' (plate). The intimate, idiosyncratic and very personal nature of this man's obsession presents a sharp contrast to the 'majestic' Chartres cathedral.

Gustave Moreau Museum.

Gustave Moreau was a French Symbolist painter whose main emphasis was biblical and mythological figures.  The Gustave Moreau Museum houses more than 1000 paintings by the artist, as well as 7000 drawings. I was extremely surprised by the range of his work as well as the vast collection of the museum! His mythological and spiritual paintings gleam with a jewel - like perfection. Yet, his numerous 'unfinished' works show a Rembrandt - like under drawing facility that is quite expressive! When it comes to painting he was quite the alchemist. His own students include Henry Matisse  and Georges Rouault.  Andre Bretton famously used to "haunt" the museum and regarded Moreau as a precursor of Surrealism.

Musée Gustave Moreau Art Nouveau staircase.

I finally made it to Musée Gustave Moreau today! The symbolist painter is known for his mythological fantasies and jewel - like painting. His 'town house' (don't make them like that any more...) has the most magnificent Art Nouveau staircase I have ever seen! The major surprise to me, however, is the vast collection of more than 1000 oils, watercolours and 7000 drawings in the museum. The house itself is decorated with visual excess and an idiosyncratic sense for the exotic. I will make the effort again to come to this museum on my next visit to Paris!

Pierre et Gilles and tapestries at La Manufacture des Gobelins.

During recent research on contemporary Paris art exhibitions, I stumbled upon a Pierre et Gilles installation at Galerie des Gobelins. Being totally in touch with my kitsch side.., I decided this is certainly worth a visit. Little did I know that the gallery is located at La Manufacture des Gobelins, a tapestry factory since the early 17th century! Originally a dyeing workshop set up in about 1440, Louis XIV took it over in 1662 and gathered the greatest craftsman of the day, including Flemish weavers to create works for his palace at Versailles. Today weavers still continue to work in the traditional way but with modern designs. If you are interested in 17th and 18th century tapestries and want to engage closely with them and visit the fascinating factory space where they were created, this is the place to go! Another hidden gem and what a rich, fantastic history!

Mozart's Requiem in the Notre Dame!

I am a firm believer in the power of speech spoken aloud, and how this impacts on the direction of our mind and the evolution of our life! Less than 6 months ago I mentioned to my Saturday art class that I would love to see Mozart's Requiem performed in a large cathedral one day. It is my favorite by far!  Well well ... that day has arrived! Mozart's Requiem will be performed tonight in the Notre Dame and I have my ticket in my hand! This will surely be a divine and life changing experience. Feeling blessed...

Epic Monet exhibition at Musée Marmottan!

Musée Marmottan is simply a hidden gem! It contains the biggest collection of Monet paintings in the world, yet the museum does not nearly receive the same attention than Musée D'Orsay or L'Orangerie for instance. The exhibition "Impression, Sunrise" celebrates the true story of the masterpiece by Monet. As part of the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Musée Marmottan and of the 140th anniversary since the first exhibition of the work "Impression , Sunrise", the exhibition presents 94  paintings, 29 drawings and other personal objects belonging to Monet. There is also a permanent collection featuring numerous works by Berthe Morisot, Degas and Manet  to name but a few. The area ('Passy' close to La Muette Metro) is also very sophisticated and quiet. Would defenately like to stay here on future visits to Paris to escape the city noise at night!

Oscar Muñoz at Galerie National du Jeu de Paume (part 2).

Galerie National du Jeu de Paume is hosting a retrospective of the work by the Columbian artist Oscar Muñoz. His works blur the boundaries between photography, printmaking, drawing, installation, video and sculpture. Through his innovative processes such as printing charcoal pigment on water and silkscreen(ed) charcoal dust on methacrylate he creates unstable images that oscillate between presence and absence. "Narcissi in process" illustrated above, is a set of self - portraits printed in charcoal pigment on water in shallow vitrines lined with paper. The water slowly evaporates during the course of the exhibition, eventually allowing the pigment to settle onto the paper in a slightly altered version of the original portrait image.

Oscar Muñoz at Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume (part 1).

Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume is hosting a retrospective of the work of Columbian artist Oscar Muñoz. Having achieved international renown as an exceptional draughtsman, in the 1980s Muñoz gradually abandoned paper as a support and experimented with new techniques of drawing and printmaking. Muñoz is known for his use of ephemeral materials, in poetic reflections upon memory and mortality. His video "Re/trato" shows the artist futile attempt to paint a self - portrait with water on a hot pavement. "Intervalos (mientras respiro)" illustrated above, are self - portraits made by Muñoz  using a cigarette to 'draw' while he smokes. The action of puffing on the cigarette increases the heat from which the image will be made, giving life to it, while the body breathing in the smoke comes one step closer to death. Extremely thought provoking, multi-layered and innovative!

Cité de l'Architecture et du Partimone.

This was undoubtedly my 'surprise discovery' of my whole stay in Paris so far! I am an avid admirer of Gothic architecture and somehow missed the 'Cité de l'Architecture et du Partimone' on previous visits to Paris. I firmly believe that most guide books do not give this museum of French architectural achievements the credit it deserves. The museum allows the visitor the opportunity to view the rich architectural heritage of France from the Middle Age's to the present day, in less than half a day! The museum is located opposite the Eiffel Tower and comprises 8000 m2 of exhibition space with life - size reproductions of the doorways of Chartres and Strasbourg cathedrals (to name but a few) and a full scale apartment of Le Corbusier's 'Cité redieuse'. If you enjoy architecture and have a short stay in Paris that does not allow you to visit all these historic monuments scattered throughout France, head for Cité de l'Architecture et du Partimone for a surprisingly invigorating experience! The best part...no trampling crowds...

"Mapplethorpe / Rodin" exhibition at Musée Rodin.

"Mapplethorpe / Rodin" exhibition in Paris is on from 8 April - 21 September. The exhibition brings together 50 sculptures by Rodin and 102 photographs by Mapplethorpe at the Musée Rodin, exploring unexpected dialogues between movement and tension, light and shadow, and eroticism and damnation. Some exceptional juxtapositions!

Musée Rodin.

I have postponed this experience for quite some time. Somehow in al my trips to Paris I never got to the Musée Rodin. I guess one is always pressed for time and have other priorities. Moreover, part of me always wants to have something to look forward to. I was surprised by the relaxing experience of the museum and it's beautiful gardens. Somehow Rodin's sculpture comes alive in the setting of the elegant gardens of Hotel Biron. Rodin lived here from 1908 - 1917 and in return for a state-owned flat and studio, left his work to the nation. What an awesome experience and perfect day in Paris! This comes highly recommended, especially if one wants to retreat from the hectic city experience for some much needed 'breathing space'. Best part...you can take photographs! I did not disappoint...

Victor Hugo Museum, Chinese room.

Victor Hugo is probably best known outside of France for his acclaimed "Les Misérables" and the "Hunchback of Notre-Dame". During a visit to the Victor Hugo museum, I was quite surprised to see the whole scope of this man's talent! Apart from producing more than 4000 drawings (mostly monochrome and in the Romantic tradition) his house is a jumble of styles. The main bedroom is a Baroque red chamber with tapestries on the ceiling and a desk where he wrote a lot of his master pieces, standing up. Some other highlights include an oriental blue chamber, a bust by Rodin depicting Victor Hugo and a most impressive Chinese room depicted above! This room certainly proves that "less can be a bore... more is more" ;-)