Top 5 exhibitions in France

 

We give you the top 5 #LondonExhibitions every week, what about when you aren't in London? So, if you happen to be heading to France, CDG artist of the month Darragh Powell gives us the Top 5 in France. You can read our interview with the international artist here, to hear about how to work across two countries and seeing the world. Thanks Darragh!

 

Curious Duke Gallery asked me if I could recommend some summer exhibitions in France and not knowing what was going to be on I thought it would be good to have a look and I'll be sure to see at least a one or two of these shows. It was hard to narrow down to just a few shows and I'd also recommend getting on a flight or driving to the city of Lyon where there are always good exhibitions taking place (the city itself is a must see anyway), as a great alternative to Paris. I've also included a couple of my favourite galleries to get things up and running.

 

'Les Gourmandises' (summer group show) 1^st July - 30^th August at Galerie Espace Castillon, Toulon (Var) France. This unique gallery in the mediterranean port of Toulon generally hangs a new show every month. In addition to these larger works the 60+ artists that make up the team permanently showcase (more affordable) smaller works in racks (much like in a vinyl record store) and there really is something for every taste here such is the huge variety of work on offer.

 

The gallery 'Bertheas-Les Tournesols' in the beautiful Spa town of Vichy shows some of the most sought after artists on the french art scene including Philippe Pasqua, Spark and JonOne. Many of the works feature bright colours and either street art or comic book inspired themes, the nice gallery space and 'Belle Epoque' park-side location is fantastic in itself.

 

Domaine Royal de Randan. Les Héros - 2^nd July to 28^th September 2014. The Chateau and grounds in the village of Randan (between Vichy and Clermont-Ferrand) host the sculptures of Roland Cognet, who was actually a tutor at Clermont-Ferrand School of Art whilst I was studying there. In this show he gives a second life to trees that were felled in the 1999 storm that devastated many of the surrounding forests bringing them back to life as assorted animals, perhaps drawing on the various taxidermy animals to be found in this regal property.

 

De l'Impressionnisme au Street Art, sur les pas de Van Gogh. (From Impressionisme to Street Art, in the footsteps of Van Gogh). 5^th April to 21^st September 2014 - Château d’Auvers, Auvers sur Oise. Street artist Nowart pays homage to Van Gogh and the impressionists in Auvers sur l'Oise, where Van Gogh once lived (it was also the town where he died in July 1890).

 

Cet obscur objet de désirs. Autour de l'Origine du monde (This obscure object of desire. The Origine of the World) -7^th June to 1^st September 2014- at the Musée Courbet, Ornans, near Besancon (Doubs). An exhibition based around Gustave Courbet's famous painting depicting the lower half a naked woman lying on a bed with her legs spread. This work was unknown to the general public until 1995 (more than 100 years after his death) when it was handed over by the family of its last owner, the psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan to the French state as settlement of the family's inheritance tax bill. It has been on show at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris ever since sparking huge debate. This show also looks at works by Rodin, Degas, Durer, Ingres, André Masson and Louise Bourgeois amongst others.

 

 

Thanks for reading, bonnes vacances!

 

Darragh Powell