In Avignon on Saturday, we were surprised at how few tourists there were. The place de l’Horloge and the space in front of the Papal Palace are usually bustling with visitors, but all was quiet. Our waiter told us that it is ‘une catastrophe’.
Hopefully the forthcoming Avignon Festival will lure the visitors back. It’s on from July 6th – 24th and booking is now open http://www.festival-avignon.com/en/programme.
The Collection Lambert, France’s largest contemporary art museum, is closed at the moment while they install their new exhibits and prepare their courtyard, where this very unusual sculpture will be shown.
It’s a 5 metre bronze of the moment when Zinedine Zidane head-butted his Italian opponent during the final of the 2006 World Cup. The 45-year old sculptor Adel Abdemessed said, enigmatically: ‘I received the violence of the gesture of Zidane, from the TV screen, in my face. I wanted to show the dark side of the hero, the taste of the inevitable destiny and resounding immediacy of a gesture’.
It’s a 5 metre bronze of the moment when Zinedine Zidane head-butted his Italian opponent during the final of the 2006 World Cup. The 45-year old sculptor Adel Abdemessed said, enigmatically: ‘I received the violence of the gesture of Zidane, from the TV screen, in my face. I wanted to show the dark side of the hero, the taste of the inevitable destiny and resounding immediacy of a gesture’.Hopefully things will perk up in Avignon during July and the visitors will come back in droves.
Poignant capture of an unforgettable moment in sports!
Yes it obviously had a big impact on the artist to make a 5m bronze!
What are they attributing the low visitor figures to?
The waiter just rolled his eyes….I believe the number of tourists in Paris has fallen and have heard anecdotally that there’s a drop in Provence too. Will try to find out…