@Art Paris fair,
Paris’ Grand Palais Éphémère is once again playing host to Art Paris fair, one of the highlights of the modern and contemporary art calendar.
Boosted by the success of the September 2021 edition that inaugurated the Grand Palais Éphémère on the Champ-de-Mars, Paris, France with a record-breaking 72,745 visitors, Art Paris 2022 was back from 7 to 10 April 2022 with a strong selection of 130 modern and contemporary galleries from some twenty different countries.
Both regional and cosmopolitan, this 24th edition was characterized by its commitment in favour of the environment with two themes – “Natural Histories” and “Art & Environment”- combined with an innovative and sustainable approach to organising an art fair.
Natural Histories: A Focus on the French Scene by Alfred Pacquement
Since 2018, Art Paris has consistently supported the French contemporary art scene by inviting curators to lend a subjective, historical and critical eye on a selection of specific projects by French artists presented by participating galleries. With Natural Histories: A Focus on the French Scene, independent exhibition curator Alfred Pacquement shared his perspective on the French art scene with a selection of 20 artists from different generations, whilst considering the way in which these artists see the natural world and how plants and animals have once again found their place in the contemporary aesthetic.
According to Alfred Pacquement, “Exploring, observing and taking stock of nature, noting how it is transformed or endangered and showcasing it, recounting its every aspect… today, the interest of artists in the plant and animal kingdoms never ceases to confirm its vitality..”
Jorge Mayet, Broken Landscape, 2016, Richard Taittinger Gallery; via Art Paris fair 2022
Art & Environment, by Alice Audouin
Independent exhibitor curator, environmental specialist and Art of Change 21 founder Alice Audouin, will orchestrate a selection of seventeen French and international artists (selected from amongst the exhibiting galleries), whose work tackles environmental issues such as global warming and the loss of biodiversity.
“The fair has a number of high profile galleries, at the same time there are what I like to call author galleries, small and medium-sized galleries that have an original line. That’s essentially the DNA of Art Paris. Both the very well-known and discovery,” Art Paris’ General Curator Guillaume Piens told Euronews.
“A new generation of artists born into the period of ecological crisis puts environmental issues at the heart of its practice. For these artists, ecology is not just a theme, but rather an expression of their relationship with the world. They are reinventing both ways of living together and the collective values of society. From ecofeminism to post-anthropocentrism, they are asserting their role as the avant-garde to the full and optimistically initiating a future where cooperation prevails over competition.” – Alice Audouin.
Art Paris adopts a sustainable approach that is a first in the world of art fairs
Art Paris, organised by France Conventions, is a regional art fair that gives pride of place to proximity, drawing local visitors and favouring local transport solutions. In 2022, the fair commits to developing an environmentally responsible approach to organising an art fair.
Karbone Prod, founded by Fanny Le Gros, joined forces with environmental consultants Solinnen and Art of Change 21 to assist Art Paris with the implementation of a life cycle assessment-based sustainable approach in what will be a first for an art fair. This pioneering initiative is supported by French environmental agency ADEME. In the longer term, the aim is to develop a tool for designing environmentally friendly art fairs.
“Solo Show”: Seventeen Monographic Exhibitions
Art Paris encourages the presentation of monographic exhibitions spread throughout the fair. These solo shows allowed visitors to discover or rediscover in depth the work of modern, contemporary or emerging artists. The “Solo Show” sector was specifically highlighted in the fair’s communication and promotional materials.
“Promises”: Supporting Young Galleries and Emerging Artists
“Promises”is a sector focusing on young galleries created less than six years ago, provided a forward-looking analysis of cutting-edge contemporary art. Participating galleries may present up to three artists and the fair financed 45% of their exhibitor fees.
@Art Paris fair
