Photo of the Week

France's new president, François Hollande, bravely withstood the pouring rain on the day of his investiture, a few hours before his plane was hit by lightning on the way to Germany. Photo: Eric Tenin of Paris Daily Photo.

Wednesday, 16 May 2012 00:00

Paris Update Art Notes

BUREN'S GRAND PALAIS

Mirrored discs on the floor give visitors a new perspective on the roof of the Grand Palais.

For this year's Monumenta, French artist Daniel Buren, famed for his obsession with stripes, has been given the challenge of filling the vast empty space of Paris's Grand Palais exhibition hall with an installation. Surprisingly, stripes play only a small role here, on the forest of black-and-white posts holding up discs of transparent plastic in four colors: blue, orange, yellow, green. With the changing light of day and the projectors at night, the effect is pretty, colorful and decorative, but rather underwhelming, especially when compared with some of the more powerful earlier Monumentas, notably those of Anselm Kiefer, Richard Serra and Anish Kapoor. Heidi Ellison

Paris Update This Week's Events

For full details about an event, click on its name to visit the official Web site (in English when available).

Chartre en Lumières

> The town of Chartres illuminates its monuments and the cathedral with colorful light installations. Through Sept. 15.

Festival de l'Imaginaire

> Performances by troupes from around the world, Maison des Cultures du Monde, Paris, through June 17.

Festival de Saint Denis

> Music festival featuring both stars like Sir Colin Davis and young talents; ends with a dawn performance by horse whisperer Bartabas and oud player Mehdi Haddab, Cathedral and Legion of Honor, Saint Denis, through June 30.

Festival Extensions

> Concerts, dance, films and more, various locations, Paris and Val de Marne, through May 31.

Festival International des Jardins de Chaumont-sur-Loire

>"Gardens of delights, gardens of delirium" is the theme of this year's garden festival, Chaumont-sur-Loire, through Oct. 21.

Festival Jazz à Saint-Germain-des-Prés

>Jazz acts ranging from amateur to big names like Ahmad Jamal and Yusef Lateef (together). Various locations, Paris, May 20-June 3.

Nuit des Musées

>Museums stay open into the night, hold special events and are free, various locations, Paris, May 19

Salon d'Art Contemporain de Montrouge

>57th annual festival of contemporary art featuring 80 up-and-coming artists, La Villette, Montrouge, through May 30.