ART FAIRS:Art Paris 2017
Since it was inaugurated in 1998, Art Paris Art Fair has become a highlight on the International Art calendar and a major event on the Paris scene. A meeting point for professionals of the Modern and Contemporary Art Markets, the Fair each year draws a growing number of Collectors and visitors. Open to all forms of artistic expression including Design, Art Paris Art Fair provides an overview of art from the postwar years to the current day.
By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: Art Paris Art Fair Archive
The 19th edition of Art Paris Art Fair hosts 130 Modern and Contemporary Art Galleries at the Grand Palais from 29/3-2/4/17. The 2017 selection bears witness to the fair’s increased international standing with 29 countries represented, compared to 22 in 2016. Exploring the regions of Europe constitutes one of the fair’s main areas of work, with this year the participation of galleries from Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Knokke-Heist, Amsterdam and 13 galleries from different parts of France. Since 2012, Art Paris Art Fair is exploring foreign art scenes that have never, or are only rarely presented in France. The 2017 Guest of Honour is Africa, with Guest Curator Marie-Ann Yemsi, the invitation of Africa as guest of honour highlights a previously-unseen perspective of contemporary African artistic horizons, as well as other visions of purely African or wider-ranging influences. Spread across the different sections of the fair, 20 galleries from South Africa, Angola, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria, Uganda, Senegal, Tunisia and Europe showcase the emerging generation of artists from both the African continent itself and its diaspora. It will be on presentation works by 70 African artists among them are: Mohau Modisakeng, Billie Zangewa, Mario Macilau, Gareth Nyandoro, Romuald Hazoumé, Bili Bidjocka, Omar Ba, Kendell Geers, Omar Victor Diop, Chéri Samba and Bodys Isek Kingelez. A selection of videos entitled “Les territoires du corps” will be screened at the Grand Palais. These films explore the work of artists for whom the body is both the subject of their questioning and the means of expression of their art. “La Colonie” is “A new space designed to encourage free and independent thinking” created by Kader Attia. It will host a day of conferences and meetings that will bring together key cultural figures who are committed to the promotion of artists from Africa and members of the African diaspora. The Solo Show section includes 20 personal exhibitions scattered throughout the fair providing an opportunity for the public to discover or rediscover the work of modern, contemporary or emerging artists. The participating artists are: Eduardo Arroyo, Serge Attukwei, Marcel Berlanger, Hicham Benohoud, Marion Boehm, Bernard Buffet, Sou Fujimoto, Kendell Geers, Thomas Henriot, Richard Hunt, Hoon Kwak, Mohamed Lekleti, Mario Macilau, Tsuyoshi Maekawa, Ramuntcho Matta, Najia Mehadji, Julian Mereuta, Mohau Modisakeng, Tinka Pittoors, Ugo Schildge, Edouard Wolton, Gao Xingjian and Billie Zangewa. Promises: is the section that is dedicated to promoting new galleries that are under five years old and have never taken part in Art Paris Art Fair. This year brings young galleries that are under six years old of existence. For 2017, Art Paris Art Fair, in partnership with The Fine Art Collective, is launching the L’art est Vivant Prize that will honour an artist whose work is presented at Promises Section. Bus Expo (20/3-20/4/17) the Air France airport busses will feature temporary exhibitions of 5 artists selected from among the Solo Shows at the fair, as part of the Bus Expo Project. The aim is to make Contemporary art accessible to the widest possible audience.
Info: Art Paris Art Fair 2016,Artistic Director: Guillaume Piens, Grand Palais, Avenue Winston Churchill, Paris, Days & Hours: Wed (29/3/17) 14:00-18:00 (Opening by invitation only) & 18:00-22:00 (Vernissage by invitation only), Thu (30/4/17) 11:30-20:00, Fri (31/4/17) 11:30-21:00, Sat (1/4/17) 11:30-20:00, Sun (2/4/17) 11:00-19:00, Catalogue: €20, Entrance fee: Adults and children over age 10: €25, Students and groups of 10 or more: €12, Free admission for children under age of 10, www.artparis.com
