aixcentric

Lucky Francois Holland to be in Marseille today opening MUCEM.  I can’t wait to have a look around this new building, see the exhibitions and venture over the walkway to the Fort St Jean.  Everyone will have a chance this coming Friday, 7th June, though when it is open to all, free: details here http://www.mp2013.fr/evenements/2013/06/ouverture-du-mucem/

What is it? MUCEM stands for the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations, the first ever museum for the Med and the first national museum to open outside Paris.  Apparently it will ‘use modern museum design to tackle all the uncomfortable truths, violent histories and cultural exchanges of a region stretching from Spain to Israel and back via the southern Balkans, Turkey and north Africa’.

And inside?  It has inherited a large collection from the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions in Paris so we will have to wait and see how that pans out.  The first two exhibitions are:  ‘Le Noir et Le Bleu’ – ‘from Napoleon in Egypt to Miro paintings, the Italian mafia and bloodshed in Beirut and Sarajevo’…and ‘Au Bazar du Genre Feminin/Masculin’.

Quotes come from a splendid article in today’s Guardian. The link is here if you want to know more about the design and the architect.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/03/mediterranean-civilisations-museum-marseille-opening

Culture to one side now and on to things serious……shopping!  Primark have announced that their first store in France will be in Marseille in the Grand Littoral mall.  It’s planned for December.

What is it?  A very popular shop for bargain-hunters as it has swathes of really cheap latest-fashion clothes.  Controversial – some people think it’s tat, others seem to come out with real finds.

And inside? The Primark in London’s Oxford Street occupies an entire block opposite Selfridges and is always heaving.  Lots of French tourists rushing round with the lobster-pot style baskets crammed with clothing.  I am always amused too by the number of Chinese visitors massing up bargains, made in China, to take home to China.  Funny old world!