Anish Kapoor - Monumenta

On Thursday we went to Grand Palais to see the new exhibition monumenta. Every year, one artist is invited to take on the challenge of filling the space. Grand Palais is a massive space, made for large expositions  long ago. Anish Kapoor is the artist chosen this year. 

His piece is a massive inflated shape that can be viewed from the inside, and out. First you walk inside through a special revolving door that keeps the 30pounds of pressure per 1msq in. You are then flooded in red light coming from the piece. It is lit from the great glass ceiling above and as you can see from my photos, it changes with the weather above. We were lucky enough to come on a day that was sunny and cloudy, so we got to see some of the light changes.

When the sun came out you were able to see the shadows from the ceilings architecture on the piece.

When the clouds came over, the space darkened, and you could no longer see any shadows, and the space was transformed into a more visceral atmosphere. 

After you are finished inside, you are invited to walk around the beast. 7km of vinyl was used to create the piece. It is most definitely monumental.

The outside gives the piece a completely different feeling. On the inside you have a small amount of space to walk in, you cannot see the whole shape, and it doesnt seem as large. The light streams in and you can see outside somewhat. From the outside, you are overwhelmed by the sheer size of the piece, and surrounded by the beauty of the building it really has a completely different feeling. The material is opaque from this side, and no light is seen from within. The colour is more a dark purple.

I really enjoyed seeing this show. From what I have seen of the previous years shows, this one is by far the best. 

Catacombs.

The catacombs run under paris for a few kilometers. They are dark, cold and creepy, not to mention, filled with dead people. Someone though it would be an awesome idea to dig up 8000 graves, and used their bones to decorate this tomb. Once there were mummies down here, that people used to come and change their clothes. Its a very strange but fascinating place.

A well of water, that was so blue.

Entering the area where they once had mass.

Walls are stacked with leg bones, and lined with skulls, everything else was thrown behind.

Where mass was held.

How someone ever thought it was an ethical idea, I will never know.

People still feel the need to leave their mark of course. But it looks more like an insane persons prison cell wall.

Bell Jar, to stop it from caving in.

It is a bit of a wait to get into, but if you are coming to Paris and want an experience different to the usual Eiffel tower stuff, then its a very eye opening walk.

Just some of the many many stairs I took on this week. My poor legs.

A Wedding in Paris.

On Saturday the 7th of  May I was invited to my friends wedding here in Paris.

Erin and JC. An American and a Frenchman. This was the first of their two weddings, the next of which is in New Orleans next week. This one was small, but very quaint. A morning service at the City Hall which was a 20 or so minute walk from their house. The lovely couple and most of the wedding party walked with them to City hall. It was a beautiful sunny day, and they looked wonderful. Erins dress was one her mother was married in, as well as her aunt. She had it altered from its 1970s style, and it really suited her.

City Hall is of course, one of the prettiest buildings around.

The room was fabulous, ornate painted ceilings and walls, high ceilings, large windows and beautiful light fixtures. More than you would get anywhere else. 

The ceremony was all in French, there was no "I do"'s but some "oui"'s instead. Erins family will be filled in later as to watch actually happened during the 10 minute ceremony.

Signing those important papers, for the first time.

Newly married couple descends.

And of course, they pose for a few hundred photographs. Good practice for the next wedding, which will be much larger.

On the walk home we picked up food from local stores the Erin and JC had ordered.

An amazing selection of cheeses.

Meats adorned with apple swans.

And the most delicious cakes paris can provide.

The chocolate ones were seriously amazing.

It was a beautiful wedding and day, I'm so glad I got to witness it. The next reception was held in Strasbourg where JC's family lives. I wasnt able to make it to this part of the day, but I'm sure it was equally amazing. 

Felicitations!