Quai Branly Museum (FR-Paris)
stanislas de kertanguy
echoes internationally...
It is quite a tradition for French Presidents since Pompidou: every one
of them leaves behind him a cultural institution of importance
(the Centre Georges Pompidou for the eponymous, the Musée d'Orsay for
VGE, the New Louvre and the New French Library for Miterrand).
Jacques Chirac is said to have, notwithstanding his prime appearance of
a somewhat uncomplicated man, a real interest for the Arts of far-timed
and far-spaced civilisations. And he pledged for these to be shown in a
great museum that would gather the somewhat sparse collections of the
Musée de l'Homme (Trocadéro) and the Musée de l'Afrique et de l'Océanie
(in the southwest of Paris, at Porte Dorée, a neighborhood very rarely
seen by visitors).
The Quai Branly is a Seine embankment near the Tour Eiffel, and a vast
free land was available, waiting for an unsure convention center. It was
decided to settle the new museum here. Jean Nouvel won the architects
competition.
Its new building is very delectable, very stylish and sharp, although a
bit too coloured in my opinion. It features the now-classic "vegetable
wall" and very intriguing little boxes hanging out from the facade.
Inside is great. No more dusty "cupboards" with handwritten scarce
information, but very luminous exhibition and a cunning museography.
No need to say that the collections are superb. Some of the works,
particularly Oceanic, are stunning.
I think, a must-see for those who have more than one week in Paris,
along with the MAMVP and the Palais de Tokyo (one of these days I'll
write something on those "twins!")
karl...@hotmail.com
Mxsmanic
> I suppose that the Parisian opening of this new museum has sent a few
> echoes internationally...
I don't think anyone outside of Paris is even aware of it.
> It is quite a tradition for French Presidents since Pompidou: every one
> of them leaves behind him a cultural institution of importance
> (the Centre Georges Pompidou for the eponymous, the Musée d'Orsay for
> VGE, the New Louvre and the New French Library for Miterrand).
Tradition also seems to demand that they compete with each other for
the ugliest memorial to themselves.
> Its new building is very delectable, very stylish and sharp, although a
> bit too coloured in my opinion. It features the now-classic "vegetable
> wall" and very intriguing little boxes hanging out from the facade.
It's an incredible eyesore, especially in the Seventh.
> I think, a must-see for those who have more than one week in Paris,
> along with the MAMVP and the Palais de Tokyo (one of these days I'll
> write something on those "twins!")
All of those are way down on the list for a one-week visit. Perhaps a
one-month visit or longer.
--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.
stanislas de kertanguy
> stanislas de kertanguy writes:
>
>> I suppose that the Parisian opening of this new museum has sent a few
>> echoes internationally...
>
> I don't think anyone outside of Paris is even aware of it.
Quite strangely, the Beeb seems to be aware of it:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5108804.stm
and so is CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/05/09/paris.museums/index.html
and the New York Times has /several/ articles on it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/27/arts/design/27bran.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/06/22/arts/design/22quai.html?pagewanted=1
>> It is quite a tradition for French Presidents since Pompidou: every one
>> of them leaves behind him a cultural institution of importance
>> (the Centre Georges Pompidou for the eponymous, the Musée d'Orsay for
>> VGE, the New Louvre and the New French Library for Miterrand).
>
> Tradition also seems to demand that they compete with each other for
> the ugliest memorial to themselves.
It's your right to dislike modern architecture, but most debates
(especially on Beaubourg) are now closed. Jean Nouvel is one of the
leading French architects, he built the Institut du Monde Arabe (widely
recognised as a great success) and the new Fondation Cartier.
>> Its new building is very delectable, very stylish and sharp, although a
>> bit too coloured in my opinion. It features the now-classic "vegetable
>> wall" and very intriguing little boxes hanging out from the facade.
>
> It's an incredible eyesore, especially in the Seventh.
No more incredible than the Pyramide du Louvre. Or the Palais de
Chaillot in the 16th. And certainly no more incredible an eyseore than
the Tour Eiffel was when it was built in the Seventh! Remember what Guy
de Maupassant said about it...
>> I think, a must-see for those who have more than one week in Paris,
>> along with the MAMVP and the Palais de Tokyo (one of these days I'll
>> write something on those "twins!")
>
> All of those are way down on the list for a one-week visit. Perhaps a
> one-month visit or longer.
Please do not confuse your *own* activity of a tour leader and your
quite narrow sightseeing path with everyone's wishes!
Mxsmanic
> Quite strangely, the Beeb seems to be aware of it:
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5108804.stm
>
> and so is CNN:
>
> http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/05/09/paris.museums/index.html
>
> and the New York Times has /several/ articles on it:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/27/arts/design/27bran.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
> http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/06/22/arts/design/22quai.html?pagewanted=1
If you look far enough, you can find an article on anything.
> It's your right to dislike modern architecture, but most debates
> (especially on Beaubourg) are now closed.
Not for me.
> Jean Nouvel is one of the leading French architects ...
That's not difficult, as good French architects are rare.
> ... he built the Institut du Monde Arabe (widely
> recognised as a great success) and the new Fondation Cartier.
Both very ugly as well; come to think of it, there is somewhat of a
resemblance.
> No more incredible than the Pyramide du Louvre.
The Pyramide du Louvre is surprisingly discreet. Then again, I. M.
Pei is one of the _world's_ leading architects.
> Please do not confuse your *own* activity of a tour leader and your
> quite narrow sightseeing path with everyone's wishes!
I do what clients want.
David Horne, _the_ chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn and prestwich tesco 24h offy
> stanislas de kertanguy writes:
>
> > I suppose that the Parisian opening of this new museum has sent a few
> > echoes internationally...
>
> I don't think anyone outside of Paris is even aware of it.
Because you don't think much, full stop. I'd heard of it.
I appreciated Stanilslas's review FWIW. Who are you to shit all over it?
--
David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk
http://homepage.mac.com/davidhornecomposer http://soundjunction.org
David Horne, _the_ chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn and prestwich tesco 24h offy
> stanislas de kertanguy writes:
>
> > Quite strangely, the Beeb seems to be aware of it:
> >
> > http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5108804.stm
> >
> > and so is CNN:
> >
> > http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/05/09/paris.museums/index.html
> >
> > and the New York Times has /several/ articles on it:
> > http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/27/arts/design/27bran.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
> > http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/06/22/arts/design/22quai.html?pagewanted=1
>
> If you look far enough, you can find an article on anything.
You really are an ungracious twerp sometimes.
I knew about it, as I wrote. I actually read about it on the BBC site
FWIW. Of course, as you know, only 2 people and a dog read the article.
stanislas de kertanguy
> stanislas de kertanguy writes:
>
>> Quite strangely, the Beeb seems to be aware of it:
>>
>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5108804.stm
>>
>> and so is CNN:
>>
>> http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/05/09/paris.museums/index.html
>>
>> and the New York Times has /several/ articles on it:
>> http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/27/arts/design/27bran.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
>> http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/06/22/arts/design/22quai.html?pagewanted=1
>
> If you look far enough, you can find an article on anything.
How kiddy you are. You react like my 12-year-old pupils : you can't
stand to be proven wrong.
>> It's your right to dislike modern architecture, but most debates
>> (especially on Beaubourg) are now closed.
>
> Not for me.
Then come up with interesting arguments. Do you know what the Centre
Pompidou replaced?
There have been architectural mistakes in Paris, I won't deny it, from
the Halles to the Olympiades, IMO Bastille opera (for the exterior) but
Beaubourg certainly is not. It's both a unique construction, a testimony
of 70s modernism, and a flagship for modern art.
>> Jean Nouvel is one of the leading French architects ...
>
> That's not difficult, as good French architects are rare.
What's your point?
>> ... he built the Institut du Monde Arabe (widely
>> recognised as a great success) and the new Fondation Cartier.
>
> Both very ugly as well; come to think of it, there is somewhat of a
> resemblance.
The Institut du Monde Arabe ugly ? Have you ever set foot in it? It's
one of the most beautiful modern buildings in Paris. Its integration
with the surroundings (the Cassan bars, typical 50s, and the 60s
Brazilian "gril" of the Jussieu university, as well as the Seine embankment)
>> No more incredible than the Pyramide du Louvre.
>
> The Pyramide du Louvre is surprisingly discreet. Then again, I. M.
> Pei is one of the _world's_ leading architects.
The Pyramide is a wonderful success. That's beyond discussion. And so is
the Institut du Monde Arabe. The Fondation Cartier looks wonderful,
although it's quite unconvenient a building for contemporary art!
>> Please do not confuse your *own* activity of a tour leader and your
>> quite narrow sightseeing path with everyone's wishes!
>
> I do what clients want.
I don't buy that. You clearly have a definite idea of what Paris has to
show to tourists, your idea being very close of Amélie Poulain's. A nice
postcard. Let's protect every cobblestone from the stenches of modernism.
You did not answer about Tour Eiffel, maybe you are unaware of the
quarrels that followed its construction? How was this iron lace Meccano
accepted in the late XIXth? How did it integrate with the surroundings
(which were quite different from today, there was for instance a railway
and coal depot)? How did people react to it?
Some interesting reading:
http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/fr/documentation/dossiers/page/debats.html
stanislas de kertanguy
> You did not answer about Tour Eiffel, maybe you are unaware of the
> quarrels that followed its construction? How was this iron lace Meccano
> accepted in the late XIXth? How did it integrate with the surroundings
> (which were quite different from today, there was for instance a railway
> and coal depot)? How did people react to it?
>
> Some interesting reading:
>
> http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/fr/documentation/dossiers/page/debats.html
http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/documentation/dossiers/page/debats.html
The English translations of intellectual's protests somewhat softens
their original vigor and sophistication of words!
Mimi
"stanislas de kertanguy" <stanislas....@lesptt.net> wrote in message
news:44a3cebe$0$29301$636a...@news.free.fr...
> Mxsmanic a écrit :
>> stanislas de kertanguy writes:
>
>>> It's your right to dislike modern architecture, but most debates
>>> (especially on Beaubourg) are now closed.
>>
>> Not for me.
>
> Then come up with interesting arguments. Do you know what the Centre
> Pompidou replaced?
>
> There have been architectural mistakes in Paris, I won't deny it, from the
> Halles to the Olympiades, IMO Bastille opera (for the exterior) but
> Beaubourg certainly is not. It's both a unique construction, a testimony
> of 70s modernism, and a flagship for modern art.
>
>>> Jean Nouvel is one of the leading French architects ...
>>
>> That's not difficult, as good French architects are rare.
>
> What's your point?
>
>>> ... he built the Institut du Monde Arabe (widely recognised as a great
>>> success) and the new Fondation Cartier.
>>
>> Both very ugly as well; come to think of it, there is somewhat of a
>> resemblance.
>
> The Institut du Monde Arabe ugly ? Have you ever set foot in it? It's one
> of the most beautiful modern buildings in Paris. Its integration with the
> surroundings (the Cassan bars, typical 50s, and the 60s Brazilian "gril"
> of the Jussieu university, as well as the Seine embankment)
>
Mixi as an architecture critic. Hard to imagine.
Marianne
bar...@cix.compulink.co.uk
joh...@nowhere.com (Mimi) wrote:
> Mixi as an architecture critic. Hard to imagine.
He was sufficiently exercised by it to post a blog entry:
http://aprenta.blogspot.com/2006/06/this-day-was-much-warmer-than.html
Fortunately the next day he had a gay pride march to distract him from the
iniquities of French architects.
David Horne, _the_ chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn and prestwich tesco 24h offy
stanislas de kertanguy
I can understand somebody who claims he dislikes every modern buildings.
But I cannot hear the "do modern in the suburbs and leave OUR "old
town" intact". And while every architect may be rightfully criticised,
pulling on the Frenchness of Jean Nouvel is highly stupid.
[I may add that the Mayor of Paris, contrarily to what Mxsmanic writes,
is not the one who chose the location of Quai Branly.]
Mxsmanic
> Then come up with interesting arguments. Do you know what the Centre
> Pompidou replaced?
Yes.
> What's your point?
That he has no particular talent.
> The Institut du Monde Arabe ugly ?
Yes.
> Have you ever set foot in it?
Yes.
> It's one of the most beautiful modern buildings in Paris.
If you like modern garbage.
> The Pyramide is a wonderful success. That's beyond discussion. And so is
> the Institut du Monde Arabe. The Fondation Cartier looks wonderful,
> although it's quite unconvenient a building for contemporary art!
The Fondation Cartier looks unfinished and disjoint, which seems to be
a special hallmark of Nouvel's work.
> I don't buy that.
My clients do.
> You clearly have a definite idea of what Paris has to
> show to tourists, your idea being very close of Amélie Poulain's. A nice
> postcard. Let's protect every cobblestone from the stenches of modernism.
Yes. If I want Manhattan, I'll move there.
> You did not answer about Tour Eiffel, maybe you are unaware of the
> quarrels that followed its construction?
I am aware of them.
Mxsmanic
> I may add that the Mayor of Paris, contrarily to what Mxsmanic writes,
> is not the one who chose the location of Quai Branly.
I don't mention the mayor of Paris.
jeremy...@yahoo.com
Mimi wrote:
> Mixi as an architecture critic. Hard to imagine.
He makes a good couple with Prince Charles.
B;
jeremy...@yahoo.com
David Horne, _the_ chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn and
prestwich tesco 24h offy wrote:
> Mxsmanic <mxsm...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > stanislas de kertanguy writes:
> >
> > > I suppose that the Parisian opening of this new museum has sent a few
> > > echoes internationally...
> >
> > I don't think anyone outside of Paris is even aware of it.
>
> Because you don't think much, full stop. I'd heard of it.
>
> I appreciated Stanilslas's review FWIW. Who are you to shit all over it?
Mixi knows everything, and is the ultimate arbiter of style - hadn't
you heard?
B;