Inside FIAC’s 45th edition at Grand Palais and beyond
The most awaited artistic event of the year, FIAC opened this week its 45th edition at Grand Palais. With nearly 200 galleries represented, including headliners Perrotin, Kamel Mennour, Thaddaeus Ropac and Gagosian, and this year the return of some such as Hauser & Wirth, this new edition is already fulfilling all its promises. New this year, FIAC is showing a monumental work by artist Katharina Grosse. Placed in the centre of the fair, the piece is one of the rare ones to be highlighted in this way during the duration of the event (and its gallery, Gagosian, at the same time). But FIAC is also a whole “Hors les Murs” program. As in previous years, the portion of Avenue Winston Churchill between the Grand Palais and Petit Palais has been closed to traffic to accommodate a complete artistic tour, which continues from Jardin des Tuileries to Place Vendôme where the Scandinavian duo Elmgreen & Dragset (currently on display at the Perrotin gallery) presents “To Whom it May Concern”, an urban landscape littered with sea stars. It is a reflection on the uncertain future of a nature influenced by our urban society – and which would have regained its rights. FIAC even extends to Versailles with the exhibition of Japanese artist Hiroshi Sugimoto. Much more than a fair, this year FIAC claims to be an intrinsic presence in the lives of all Parisians.
Photographers: Jean Picon, Michäel Huard, Ludovica Arcero
