© Aurélien Mole - Palais de Tokyo
Six expos in one—who can top that? The Palais de Tokyo presents its cycle of contemporary art exhibitions, each one more out-there than the last. The common thread between a giant collage mural, a wall of engraved Marseille soaps, and a room that immerses you in an active volcanic landscape? The diversity of art forms and inspirations. Just goes to show that with enough imagination, creation knows no bounds! Let’s dive in.
A dreamy expo...
Right at the entrance, Praesentia is a compilation of Myriam Mihindou’s work. Her mega-pieces (with a special shoutout to the wall of Marseille soap sculptures) tackle topics like self-identity and memory. Her contemporary works often display words like “identities,” “praesentia,” or “memoriam.” Time to brush up on Latin! Farther along, the Palais de Tokyo hands over the glass-roofed space to Malala Andrialavidrazana, giving her a curved mural surface nearly 60 meters long. Look closely at this mural and you’ll spot stamps, banknotes, prints, advertisements… You might almost want to pack a picnic to take it all in!
We continue our visit with Tituba, who will protect us?, an exhibition offering deep reflections on ancestral heritage. Inspired by the character Tituba in the novel Moi, Tituba, sorcière noire de Salem (1986) by Maryse Condé, the exhibition revives her as a protective figure in photos, sculptures, and paintings. The cozy reading nook, clearly referencing the literature that inspired the exhibition, is a favorite. Next, we discover the work of Barbara Chase-Riboud, who pays tribute to iconic figures like Malcolm X and Joséphine Baker in her creations. Huge crush on her series of paper works embroidered with white thread, which creates intentionally unreadable text that just begs you to take a nap on it. An immersive listening room further enriches the exploration of this dreamy narrative world.
… but also political.
Stone Speakers – The Sounds of the Earth is an ultra-immersive installation inviting the audience into a volcanic landscape. With recordings of volcanoes from Colombia, Ethiopia, Iceland, Indonesia, and Italy, icon Julian Charrière creates a deep connection to the earth's depths. An architectural echo chamber amplifies these intense sounds, using a live data feed from seismic monitoring stations around the world. Fun fact: you’ll have to take off your shoes to dive into the heart of the volcano!
After this mini volcanology workshop, we head to the last room occupied by Lithuanian artists. This expo questions the possibility of normalcy in a context shaped by proximity to conflict. The title references an essay by author Luba Jurgenson, who writes, “Borders are nocturnal animals; they shift while we sleep. We must always keep watch.” The exhibition addresses invasion threats, the lingering shadow of occupation, and the belief systems that foster resilience. Just goes to show, art can also be a political weapon!
Autumn 2024 Exhibition Season. Palais de Tokyo, 13 avenue du Président Wilson, Paris 16th. From October 17, 2024, to January 5, 2025. Entry at 13 €. Online reservations available.
© Aurélien Mole
