Jennifer Flay, Director of Fiac Paris, Speaks to Modern Painters About Her Favorite Places to Admire Art, Eat, Shop and Stay In
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“I LOVE THE JENNIFER FLAY, DIRECTOR OF FIAC PARIS, SPEAKS TO MODERN PAINTERS ABOUT HER FAVORITE PLACES TO RESILIENCE AdmIRE ART, EAT, SHOP AND STAY IN PARIS AND INFINITE BEAUTY OF PARIS” MAGAZINE M MUSEU D An art aficionado doesn’t need a reason to visit the Louvre, the world’s largest and most visited museum AN DENNINGTON CHARLIE 52 MODERN PAINTERS OCTOBER 2017 BLOUINARTINFO.COM BLOUINARTINFO.COM OCTOBER 2017 MODERN PAINTERS 53 Come October19, collectors and art lovers from around the world will once again convene in Paris for the latest in contemporary art, thanks to FIAC, the annual International Contemporary Art Fair. “The Lafayette sector this year is particularly exciting, with 10 galleries from eight countries including Kosovo, Eygpt and India,” said Jennifer Flay, who has been the director of the festival since 2003. Flay, a native of New Zealand, has a long Chistory in the field. Born in 1959 in Auckland, she began her art history studies in New Zealand and pursued her education in France from 1980 thanks to a scholarship from the French government. From 1982 to 1987, she worked in several contemporary art galleries (Galerie Catherine Issert, Daniel Templon et Ghislaine Hussenot) and took an active part in the participation of these galleries in international fairs in Paris, Clockwise from bottom, Basel, Chicago, Madrid, Los Angeles and What are some interesting artworks we far left: Jennifer Flay, the director of FIAC; Amsterdam. During this period, Flay can look forward to at FIAC 2017? Philharmonie de Paris, collaborated, notably, with Carl André, There are many things that I am particularly the venue Flay recom- mends for all those with a Jean-Michel Basquiat, Christian Boltanski, looking forward to, for example Henry classical taste in music. Keith Haring, Richard Serra, Lawrence Taylor’s solo exhibition at Blum and Poe. His The Jean Nouvel-de- Weiner and Franz West. paintings, for which the subject matter signed building is a work of art in itself; she also In 1990, Flay founded her own gallery in consists of social and political issues recommends Sainte Paris. La Galerie Jennifer Flay (1990-2003) affecting African Americans today, have Chapelle as a must-visit destination in Paris for the represented in France Claude Closky, John incredible power and painterly virtuosity. ET; deep spirituality it Currin, Willie Doherty, Michel François, [Also] Corita Kent’s work at Galerie Allen: D AR resonates; a concert in Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Felix Her brightly colored, silkscreen text works C progress at Philharmonie de Paris Gonzalez-Torres, Karen Kilimnik, Sean occupy an important but much overlooked BEAU M Landers, Liz Larner, Zoe Leonard, Christian place in the history of Pop art on the West M Marclay, Anselm Reyle and Xavier Veilhan. Coast. Orlan and Lea Lublin at Espaivisor After she was named the artistic director of will be an interesting juxtaposition of the FIAC in 2003, she formed a partnership with contextualizing of both artists. Selma Martin Bethenod from November 2004 to Feriani from Tunis will be showing at FIAC May 2010 to reposition FIAC on the for the first time with works by Ismaïl Bahri HARLES PLATIAU/ AFP international scene,redevelop the sites of the and Massinissa Selmani respectively from C Grand Palais, the Cour Carrée of the Louvre Tunisia and Algeria, and Imanes Farès, also N; cm , FAR LEFT: HENRI WILLIA GARAT; Museum and the Tuileries Garden in the showing for the first time, will present , FAR LEFT: HENRI WILLIA GARAT; M M center of Paris and especially to revitalize Sammy Baloji from the Democratic Republic HARLES PLATIAU/ AFP C the event, which today is recognized as one of of Congo. N; BOTTO BOTTO IER PLOWY/ M M D cm the most prestigious of its kind. Since June The year 2017 will also mark the return of I 2010, Flay has been managing director of a design sector to the Grand Palais with five D ET; ET; FIAC. galleries showing masterpieces of modernist D AR KWISE FRO KWISE FRO C C IER PLOWY/ Following are edited excerpts from her and contemporary design. C D I CLO D CLO interview with MODERN PAINTERS: Oscar Tuazon’s site-specific installation on BEAU 54 MODERN PAINTERS OCTOBER 2017 BLOUINARTINFO.COM BLOUINARTINFO.COM OCTOBER 2017 MODERN PAINTERS 55 From left: Flay says Galeries Lafayette is the best place to shop if you don’t have enough time in Paris as all major brands are present in one place; In the heart of modern Paris is Square de la Place Dauphine, which seems to belong to another era the Place Vendôme will be exceptional; Louvre Museum. the Sainte Chapelle inside the Conciergerie à la française” is best expressed. Parisian. Concentrated in the sectors of Richard Nonas will present a large-scale for the deep spirituality it resonates; the Where would you go and what would you But on a more regular basis, I enjoy the modern and contemporary art, they represent work imagined for the pedestrianized Which is your favorite museum in gardens of the Musée Eugène Delacroix do if you had a free morning or possibility of “one stop shopping” at the only a small part of the large number of highly esplanade of the Avenue Winston Churchill; Paris and why? and the Petit Palais because both are such afternoon in Paris? Galeries Lafayette where all the major fashion reputed venues to be found in the capital. The Matt Mullican’s banners from 1986 will be Impossible to say which is my favorite! No unsuspected and miraculous little havens There is always something I feel I must see or houses are present, together with interesting Gallery Night, to be held on Thursday October displayed on the façade of the Petit Palais. city in the world can boast so many world- of peace and quiet within the hustle and see again at the Musée du Louvre so a walk and more affordable younger designers and 20 during FIAC, is an opportunity to discover The Tuileries Gardens, organized in class institutions. The Musée Guimet’s bustle of the city, and the Opera Garnier in the collections is always a great “prêt à porter.” The shopping experience around 100 of these. collaboration with the Louvre Museum, incredible treasures of Asian art, the Musée because the excellence in the field of opera destination. Very central but still quite provides a great overview of what is available; will present an exceptional ensemble of 26 du Quai Branly and its unparalleled and dance which it embodies is preserved, at the very extremity of the Ile de an ideal solution for busy schedules. What are the best places to see live bands sculptural works and installations, together collections of art premiers, the Palais perpetuated each night of the week during la Cité, is the tiny Square de la Place or musicians in Paris and why? with six architectural projects including Galliera’s collections of costumes and the season. Dauphine, which is one of my favorite places Where would you recommend people stay In a classical vein, the new Philharmonie de modernist houses by Jean Prouvé, a utopian couture retracing the history of fashion; the in Paris. It is a plunge into the Paris of when they visit Paris? Paris has an exceptional program of world- dwelling by Hans-Walter Müller, an artist’s Musée de la Vie Romantique and of course What restaurants, bars, and cafés would another era with a quaint, almost provincial, There is an incredible variety of beautiful and class musicians, ensembles and orchestras house by Atelier van Lieshout, a Pavillion by the collections of the National Museum of you recommend in Paris and why? feel to it.In fact, it is not unusual to see charming places to stay in Paris. For a truly with a varied repertoire. The Silencio, a club the Campana brothers and a nomad and Modern Art at the Centre Pompidou, which I love Balagan, a restaurant located on the people playing pétanque. Close by, the unforgettable experience, I can recommend conceived by David Lynch and inspired by the modular museum space by Christian de will be rehung on the occasion of FIAC. I ground floor of the Hôtel Renaissance Paris Marché des Fleurs is also one of my favorite the Hôtel Meurice on the Rue de Rivoli just European salons of previous centuries, has a Portzamparc! have a particular affection for museums Vendôme. Modern-day Jerusalem cuisine, places. On Saturdays and Sundays, I like the opposite the Tuileries Gardens. great line-up in an ambiance conducive to Trisha Brown’s performances, held in the which are housed in the former homes or with fusion dishes mixing up Jewish, Arabic Vanves fleamarket where I invariably find The refined elegance of the“Belle Étoile” (very) late nights. Last but not least, and in context of our Festival “Parades,” will pay studios of artists, such as the Musée Eugène and Meditteranean traditions. There is also something that stimulates my curiosity. suite with a panoramic terrace on the rooftop keeping with Paris’ motto fluctuat nec homage to work of this great choreographer Delacroix or the Musée Gustave Moreau. It the Racines des Près, a sophisticated new is pure magic. mergitur — and for the memory of those who who passed away this year, while the young is as if the presence of the previous address run by chef Alexandre Navarro (ex- Where would you head to in Paris for the lost their lives — the Bataclan has reopened ONS ONS choreographer Nicholas Paul of the Paris occupants can still be felt. Plaza Athénée, Pré Catelan and Racines 2). mm mm best shopping and what would you buy? What are the best places to see and buy with the great program it is known for.