Sabine Weiss, Ed Atkins, Martin Margiela and More Must See Shows in Paris

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While many galleries have closed for the remainder of the summer season, there are still plenty of museum and foundation shows that you won’t want to miss on view in Paris now.

“In Tune with the World” at Fondation Louis Vuitton
Now—August 27
“In Tune with the World” is a two-part group exhibition exploring the questions of our place in the universe and what ties us to our surrounding environment. The exhibition, which fills all galleries in the Frank Gehry building, highlights the interconnectedness of humans, plants, animals, and even inanimate objects through works by Takashi Murakami and 28 other international artists. In the exhibition, visitors will find a gallery dedicated to Murakami’s famous character, DOB, as well as works like Gerhard Richter’s Lilak, and Yves Klein’s monochrome, IKB81.

François Morellet
L’avalanche
2006
36 neon tubes, transformers, and high-voltage transmission codes
370 x 770 x 670 cm
© Adagp, Paris, 2018
© Mnam Centre Pompidou/Georges Meguerditchian

“Le centre ne peut tenir” at Lafayette Anticipations
Now—September 9
Named for the W.B. Yeats poem, The Second Coming, “Le centre ne peut tenir,” (a phrase meaning “the center cannot hold”) serves as an inverse of the poet’s tale of mourning, turning the words into an act of affirmation. Instead of lamenting a world that has lost its meaning, the exhibition uses the words to suggest that our current reinforcement of social, political, and cultural categorizations could create a rebalance of power—if treated as intimately linked groupings, opposed to dichotomous parts. Featuring over 10 international artists like Lucy Beech, Julien Creuzet, and Yuri Pattison, “Le centre ne peut tenir” is composed solely of new commissions and is accompanied by a publication.

“Margiela, les années Hermès” at Musée des Arts Decoratifs
Now—September 2
Serving as a tribute to Martin Margiela, “Margiela, les années Hermès” showcases the designer’s work for Hermès between the years of 1977-2003, as well as a selection of garments designed for Maison Martin Margiela. Originally created in collaboration with Margiela himself for the ModeMuseum, the exhibition features nearly 100 accessorized looks that illustrate his personal approach to design while creating a strong distinction between the work he did for Hermès in comparison to his own brand.

Christian Boltanski
Animitas
2014
Installation view
Talabre, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Film, color, sound
© Adagp, Paris, 2018
© Louis Vuitton / Christian Kain

Ed Atkins at Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
Now—August 19
Now on view at the Musèe d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris is Ed Atkins’ Happy Birthday !!!, a black-and-white animation that creates a commentary on the ways today’s constant digital presence affects our lives and memories. Throughout the piece, ambiguous numbers appear intermittently, creating an imaginary world that alludes to the many disturbances created by our digital companions.

Sabine Weiss at Centre Pompidou
Now—October 15
“Les Villes, La Rue, L’Autre” (which translates as “The Cities, The Street, The Other”) is a suite of photographs taken between 1945-1960 by the Swiss-born photographer, Sabine Weiss. Throughout the exhibition Weiss, a prominent figure in the French Humanist photography movement, illustrates a devotion to encouraging reconciliation with reality in the uncertain years after World War II.