L'Institut du Monde Arabe / the Paris Mosque

Yesterday, I took another break from Euro-centric art to go and check out an exhibit at the Arab Institute. Right now, the Jean-Nouvel (who also did the Fondation Cartier and is working on the under-construction Musee de Quai Branly I mentioned before) designed building is hosting an exposition on the Golden Age of Arab Sciences. The actual expo was very interesting, lots of texts on mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, and architecture. There were a few videos and scientific instruments, including some astrolabes and astronomical "globes" which mapped out the constellations. Definitely made me wish I could read Arabic. There's also a pretty comprehensive bookstore and a building next to the Institute that has a "Medina" replete with ridiculously overpriced goods from Morocco to Tunisia, Syria, and Lebanon.

There were two big downsides that ended up working together to make the whole experience not so great. Firstly, it was a sunday, so "le monde" (everyone) was there, and the Institute is a really skinny building, so the small ticket-selling room was overwhelmed with people, as was the claustrophobic exhibition space. I'd reccomend checking out the institute and their bookstore, but go during the week.

After that, I walked past the Jardin des Plantes through the Roman part of the city to the Paris Mosque, which has been around since the 1920s. While I couldn't go inside the mosque, there's a cool cafe on one corner with pastries, mint tea, hooka (shisha/nargila), and some real food such as couscous. It's a cool atmosphere and feels very neighborhoody, with a lot of french families and couples hanging out.