Fall of art! The city of art! Report on the “Art Shopping Paris 2023 [Fall Session]” held in Paris

Held at the same venue as “Paris Collection” directly connected to the Louvre

The leaves of horse chestnut also turn color, and in the city of Paris, you can feel the arrival of autumn,”Art Shopping Paris 2023” was held over 3 days from 2023/10/20 (Friday) to 22 (Sun). The venue is the complex “Carrousel du Louvre” directly connected to the Louvre Museum. It is also known for hosting the Paris Collection (commonly known as Paris Collection). With the Rugby World Cup being held in France around the same time, and the 2024 Olympics, Paris is attracting attention as a stage for major global events. The number of tourists has also almost recovered to the level before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, and an art fair where works and galleries from all over the world gather has begun in the city of Paris, which is becoming increasingly international. This time, Japan Promotion supported the exhibition by 107 groups of artists, the largest number ever. Due to our exhibition results so far and their high quality,Art Shopping ParisWe gained trust from Miriam Annonay Castanet, the representative of “GEM ART,” which hosts, and we developed a large booth to disseminate Japanese art right from the entrance to the venue.

Art Shopping Paris 2023 [Fall Session]
‍Period: 2023/10/20 (Fri) -22 (Sun)
Venue: Carrousel du Louvre (Carrousel du Louvre)

A “festival” to celebrate the opening of the fair

Vernissage

At 19:00 on the first day, 20th (Friday), VIPs and invited guests gathered at the opening party (vernissage) of the art fair to check out works that have not yet been seen by general visitors one step ahead. There is a long line at the reception desk where safety checks are carried out and at the cloakroom where luggage is kept. At the same time as the opening, the venue was full of people, and it became so crowded that it was almost difficult to even walk. That wave of people speaks more eloquently than anything else about the fact that so many people are seeking encounters with new art that they haven't seen yet. The enthusiasm of art fans welcoming the fair engulfed the hall.

Performances by artists were also performed during the vernissage, making the venue even more exciting. There was a crowd of people at the impressive performance where the calligrapher wrote up the letters right in front of her eyes. When I conveyed the meaning in French, they felt that calligraphy was even more familiar, and they seemed delighted.

A public day where you can slowly interact with the workInstead of the enthusiasm of the first day, for 2 days from the next day, there is a peaceful time where each visitor carefully faces the work and tries to find their own one-of-a-kind. Japan Promotion has set up a booth right after entering the venue, a spot you can't miss at any cost. Many visitors stopped by and enjoyed meeting special works that can only be found at this fair.

Excited about highly original works

France's understanding and interest in Japanese culture is growing year by year. In addition to the popularity of anime and manga, the opera district, which is within walking distance of the venue, is lined with a wide variety of Japanese restaurants, and queues form every day and night. Even so, “various aspects of Japanese culture are shown. My image of Japan was restructured, and I fell in love with it even more!” What showed such a power of communication that made me say that was the Japanese art works that met in one place. Visitors were seen here and there throughout the exhibition, enjoying the many works full of originality, such as taking a close look at works that stand out for their detailed handwork by changing the angle, and being excited to introduce works with surprising gimmicks to their friends. French visitors are unique to their love of communicating with people. When I wanted to know more about the work, I thought, “What is the meaning behind this work?” “What is the background of this motif?” “How do you make it?” Ask questions such as, etc., and also convey your own feelings to the answers. It was impressive to see them transcending cultural boundaries and talking with artists. Also, I felt that the fact that there were people who saw the artist's work on Instagram was a point of contact with modern art. Among them, there is also a twa saying, “I came here without knowing what an art fair was like.” Still, “I like it!” Perhaps it is the power of art that attracts me with that feeling.

Japanese art that has flapped its wings all over the world

This art fair brought together exhibitors and visitors not only from France but from all over the world. The works that came from Japan have spread their wings all over the world. A wide variety of people, including those from Russia and living in Spain, Korean galleries, Taiwanese artists... of course, were fascinated by Japanese art and decided to buy the work. Just before the end of the exhibition, there was also a French madam who decided to buy the work in a short time. It was a smart decision that made me feel like a Frenchman with a clear “axis of love,” and I left the venue briskly along with the work.

After the session

Vigilance against terrorism was also growing in Paris this fall, starting with the shooting incident that occurred at school. Fortunately, there was no confusion during the session, and we were able to finish the session safely. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the exhibitors who understood the situation and helped liven up the fair together. The next time we return to this venue is next fall. We will do our best so that we can once again share Japan's wonderful art with the world, so thank you for your continued support.