In Art We Trust Can’t-miss art exhibitions coming to Paris this season. BY SARAH HUGHES
Peter Kogler, Untitled, 2018 in Artistes et Robots
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e’ve all been caught by manifestations in France: from April 3 to June 28, the French national rail system will be on a rolling strike for two days out of the week. This tradition of protest and debate has been around for years. However, in the age of technology, the stage for social engagement in France has extended past the streets and into the realm of art and culture. These four artistic exhibitions opening this spring in Paris illustrate how Parisians and foreigners alike are coming together to react, respond to and reflect on imminent environmental, evolutionary, nutritional and technological changes.
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Devenir March 9 – July 8, 2018 Collège des Bernadins 20 Rue de Poissy Paris, 75005
Artistes & Robots April 5 – July 9, 2018 Grand Palais 3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower Paris, 75008
Since March 9, the Collège des Bernardins, one of the oldest buildings in Paris dedicated to the reflection and research of modern society, has been hosting a very original exhibition, inviting visitors to experience art in three stages—past, present and future. Bringing together ten emerging artists, professors and alumni of the École des Beaux-Arts, the event tackles questions such as, “How do we evolve in the world around us? What is our position in climate or political situations, and what can we do today to influence the transformation of our dynamic world tomorrow, the day after and in the years to come?” The “Present” section of the Devenir (becoming) exhibition commenced in early April and will continue until July 1. Over these three months, the public is invited to observe the collective work of three selected artists and follow its evolution. From July 5 to 8, the “Future” will then be examined by round tables open to the public on the question of becoming. The underlying desire of Devenir is to explore the interaction between our own personal evolutions as well as those of the world which we interact with from day to day. Through a highly personal art experience, visitors will be encouraged to come back on several occasions to witness the ever-evolving exhibition, and to come to appreciate that nothing is immutable.
This electronics-centric project showcased at the Grand Palais provides a closer look into the new and emerging virtual world. The work on display highlights issues and common questions around the reign of high technology, more specifically: the advent of the artificial imagination. Is a machine able to match the skills of an artist? Could a robot replace a painter or a sculptor? To what extent can one speak of artificial creativity? From Miquel Chevalier’s interactive virtual garden to Michael Hansmeyer’s computational architecture, more than 30 installations, all generated by computer software or robotic machines, have been programmed and installed to mark our sensitive era of the technical revolution that balances on the intersection of fiction and reality. From artists who create machines to machines that then create art, the public will be exposed to robotics, life-size installations and “dream machines” that accentuate not only the intelligence of computer programs, but also their creative abilities. If you’re looking for a total immersion of digital art, this is the event for you.
Image credits: (top) © Photo Aldo Peredes for the Rmn-Grand Palais 2018 © Adagp, Paris 2018 (center) © Photo Aldo Peredes for the Rmn-Grand Palais, 2018 (bottom) Joe Kake for Food Art Week
