A perfect French Asian / historical contemporary fusion of an experience. I haven’t been to any Tadao Ando buildings in hindsight- maybe feeding into the sense of urgency around visiting. There is an essence of his work that I think carries Bourse de Commerce in it’s (I would say, critical) mission. This this mirror floor, the Korean artist Kimsooja pulls off what has to be along the lines of the impact of the Olafur Eliasson: The Weather Project in the Tate Modern. Besides large format work, installation art is really amongst my favorite kind (usually large and closely architectural at times so can’t be that surprised).
A rare instance I was at the same venue both morning and night. To see it from the restaurant above- empty was a lovely parting gift from Paris.
The staircases are true masterpieces in this building- certainly not lines between points- I think they outshined the artwork honestly. So beautifully executed.
There’s not a lot of gallery space and what makes it “fun” is that the display walls curve to the shape of the building. I already mentioned the Trebuchet Magazine, ‘Installation Art’, Issue 15 in a previous Paris post, but after having read those articles, I must imagine the impact something as simple as a curved vs straight wall could play into the delivery of the experience of the viewer.
I kept saying to those I talked about this place of Pinault’s collection is how much art work Pinault must own (and take care to store and maintain). I’m incredible grateful for patrons of art- it’s the only way besides music that I think can convey feeling outside of words… or the energy from our bodies.
This was my last stop on this Paris trip and it was one I happily crossed off from my previous. I barely made it but boy, was it worth it to experience Tadao Ando.
P.S. I’m reading a book “The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows” by John Koenig (book review here) which poetically captures the complexity of feelings living in today’s day and age. With made up words, he describes an experiences like siso:
n. a solitary experience you wish you could have shared with someone else– having dinner in a romantic setting, reaching the summit after an arduous climb, having a run-in with a crazy stranger that nobody’s going to believe– which makes you look around for confirmation that it even happened at all.
(invented from) Welsh si-so, see-saw, an invention that can only ever be enjoyed by multiple people; when used along, it’s just a wonky bench. Pronounced “see-soh.”
I have many moments of siso, but not this Paris trip. Being able to share this, and all the rest of the Paris spaces on this March 2024 trip, with my best friend was the greatest joy. I dedicate this post to her- for allowing me to share this with her, as if to indeed, confirm it happened at all.
Address: 2 Rue de Viarmes, 75001 Paris, France
Website: ArchDaily Tadao Ando Project
ofallthespaces 