Five Must-See Art Exhibitions in Paris: May 2017

Just in case you get tired of the sun playing hide-and-seek in the sky, here is our selection of exhibitions we loved the most this month in Paris.

1. “Unleashed: Roger Ballen and Hans Lemmen“ at Musée de la chasse et de la nature – until June 4, 2017

Musée de la Chasse et de la nature’s new exhibition Unleashed is the result of a long distance artistic collaboration between internationally renowned photographer Roger Ballen based in South Africa and sculptor-illustrator Hans Lemmen based in Netherlands. The two artists reinterpret and reconstruct each other’s work, in a manner similar to the surrealist cadavre exquis practice, with Ballen exploring the subconscious animalist tendencies in us, and Lemmen’s reminiscing of the primitive times when humans and animals lived in harmony. Details

2. “The French Spirit: Countercultures 1969-1989” at La Maison Rouge – until May 21, 2017

The French Spirit exhibition at La Maison Rouge is a vivid exploration of countercultures and social movements that followed the May 1968 protests. With some 700 works and documents on display, the exhibition presents an extensive study of these countercultures and how they continue to shape contemporary ideas of freedom, liberty and creativity. A recommended visit for those interested in French history and new social movements. Details

3. “Kiefer-Rodin” at Musée Rodin – until October 22, 2017

The Kiefer-Rodin exhibition is one of the events scheduled across France to commemorate the death centenary of sculptor Auguste Rodin. For this exhibition, sculptor and artist Anselm Kiefer explores and interprets Rodin’s book La Cathédrales de France (The Cathedrals of France) published by the sculptor in 1914. On view are Kiefer’s three monumental canvases, each titled Auguste Rodin: The Cathedrals of France (2016), with layers of oils, acrylics, emulsion, shellac and sheets of lead jutting out of them. There are also Kiefer’s vitrines and books inspired by Kiefer’s exploration of Rodin’s book and his process of creating something new from fragments of his previous works. Details

4. “Jardins (Gardens)” at the Grand Palais – until July 24, 2017

This serene exhibition explores the role gardens play in the evolution of arts from the Renaissance period through today with a beautiful selection of paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, installations and films. The exhibition features some beautiful early botanical studies as well as works by artists such as Monet, Matisse, Picasso, Paul Klee, Gustav Klimt, Cézanne and Magritte. Details

[ninja_form id=10]

5. “Eli Lotar (1905-1969)” at Jeu de Paume – until May 28, 2017

This is the first retrospective dedicated to the French-Romanian photographer and filmmaker, Eli Lotar in Paris. Lotar’s often-lyrical photographs documented the changing urban and industrial landscapes, as well as issues of social and political injustices. The exhibition features over one hundred beautiful vintage prints, several previously unseen photographs, archival documents and films that Eli Lotar produced during his career. Details