artparis 2006

This morning, I got an invite from Jacques to check out the opening (vernissage) of an absolutely gigantic contemporary and modern art show at the Grand Palais (also built for the 1900 Exposition). This expo, called artparis 2006, was one hell of a big ticket item (as Jacques put it, it was a "very searched-for invite"). I made sure to get there right around the opening, and I was still stuck in a crowd of people. Even though it was an invite-only event, galleries from France, Belgium, Switzerland and beyond had invited the local art crowd and their biggest clients. By the time Kitty and I headed out at 8:30, there was a throng of "bobos" (bohemian bourgeoisie - as the Parisians call them) with furniture eye glasses and fur coats enduring a rather perturbed 2-hour wait.

The actual expo, which officially starts tomorrow on the 16th, is unbelievable. Want a Basquiat, Keith Haring (there was even a car decorated by him), or Fernando Botero (to name just a few of the big names I saw there)? If you've got the cash, it's yours, along with an amazing collection of newer and slightly lesser known artists, along with some of the most amazing modern photography I've ever seen. Kitty and I, being twenty-somethings dressed in H&M or Zara (best guy's blazers ever), we didn't get a hell of a lot of "bonsoirs" from the gallery owners, but we did get free rein throughout the literally hundreds of booths spread across the massive and beautiful exhibition space. I've just never seen so much art in one place, all of it for sale. Since we didn't have money but wanted to pretend like we did, we pretended we were there shopping for a few "pieces" for our real imaginary houses, it made it a lot of fun. The problem with a lot of contemporary art is that it's so provocative and different that I couldn't imagine pictures of latex-bound women over my fireplace. On the other hand, there was definitely a lot of just really great and accessible pieces there with some really vibrant colors and designs.

My new project now, after coming home and drinking some wine with Jacques, who was also there, is picking up some real daguerreotypes. He was telling me that I can go to art markets and get real portraits from the 1850s for under a hundred euros, often still in their original velvet boxes. Supposedly, things like that are much more expensive in the states.

On a side note. I was leaving the expo with Kitty, both of us all dressed up, walking towards the metro with Les Invalides lit up across the Seine, and the Champs-Elysees stretching down towards the Arc de Triomphe, and I realized it's going to be tough leaving here. A lot tougher than I originally thought. It really is a charmed life here, and I'm going to be sad to see it come to an end. For this time, at least.

Also, here's a link to a site that has a collection of images on the Grand Palais.