aixcentric

Far from the heat of Provence, my summer has been spent in sunny Scotland and, feeling the wind in the willows beside the sweetly-flowing Thames.  Which means that I can’t give personal views on the current slew of exhibitions, many of which end soon.  So here comes a round-up of what’s on…..and hopefully I’ll manage to visit some and post reviews as I go.

Les Rencontres d’Arles.

Peluqeria-1979-c-ouka-leele-courtesy-of-artist.jpg

We are lucky to have the world’s largest photography exhibition so close to us.  This year, it’s 50 years old and there are 50 expos to choose from.  They are on the walls of venues all across Arles: start at the tourist office and arm yourself with a large map with all the details plus venue locations and work out a route. Highlights include ‘La Movida’ post-Franco Spanish photography at the 17thc Palais de l’Archeveché; ‘Home Sweet Home’ Brits and their billets at the Maison des Peintres, ‘Tom Wood. Mothers Sisters Daughters’ at Salle Henri Conte; and ‘Postcards’, a reflection of the rise of mass-tourism, at the Musee Departemental d’Arles Antique.  Loads of detail in English here: https://www.bjp-online.com/2019/07/what-to-see-les-rencontres-darles/

50 ans, 50 livres © Joana Luz – Courtesy LUMA & Tate Modern & Les Rencontres

Martin Parr is a frequent exhibitor at Les Rencontres.  This year he has chosen to show, ’50 Years 50 Books’ from his collection of 12,000 photography books. It’s in this enormous space, formerly a railway engine factory, at the old shunting yards just north of town.  It’s all being morphed into LUMA, a huge arts complex, including a 10-storey tower by Frank Gehry which is nearing completion.

Les Rencontres ends 22nd September

A trip out to Chateau Lacoste is always a pleasure.  New here?  Hot-foot it to see this fascinating transformation of a traditional vineyard into a centre for sculptures and installations from world-famous artists like Ai Wei-wei, Tracey Emin, Andy Goldsworthy, Tadao Ando, and many more.  Its indoor galleries are expanding in scope and this summer we can see a specially curated display of artworks on paper and objects by Jean-Michel Basquiat from 1977 to 1988. His retrospective at the Barbican in London was thrilling so this promises to be worth visiting; plus we can see Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara who presents his second solo exhibition in France and his first in over fifteen years.

The gallery says: ” Nara is internationally renowned for his distinctive paintings, sculptures, and drawings of single figures. While this imagery is rooted in Japanese popular culture. Nara’s approach reveals a deep connection with the process of making. His paintings are expressions of colour that breathe life into his bold images, his sculptures bear traces of his fingers that have shaped their forms, and his drawings capture the spontaneity of his daily thoughts”.  Basquiat ends 13th October, Nara 22 November.

We’re off to Cannes next, where there is an exhibition of the delightful and inspiring Niki de Saint-Phalle. Main details on the poster plus this link: http://www.cannes.com/fr/evenements/annee-2019/juillet/niki-de-saint-phalle-l-ombre-et-la-lumiere.html

The main show at the Malmaison (gorgeous little building on La Croisette) ends 3rd Nov; the part at Villa Domergue finishes 22nd Sept.

Here are some more end-dates to be aware of, as museums clear the decks for their autumn-winter shows. So, last chance to see…

Jean Dubuffet MuCEM, Marseille ends 2 September

Entire Museum Musee des Beaux Arts in Marseille being rejigged so closed 23 Sept – 12 December

Sainte(s) Victoire(s) Musee Granet, Aix, ends 29 September

Chefs d’Oeuvresdu Guggenheim, Caumont, Aix, ends 29 September

Fauvisme Musee Yves Brayer, Les Baux, ends 10 October

Fabienne Verrier Musee Granet, Aix ends 13 October

Everyone seems to have really enjoyed ‘Vincent Van Gogh’ and ‘Japan’ at the Carrieres de Lumiere in Les Baux. If you haven’t made it there yet, happily, this continues until early January 2020.