Multigenerational and inclusive. Paris Internationale presents itself as ‘an unconventional art fair’ that puts the value of collaboration at its center
International contemporary art fair in Paris: Paris Internationale, an ‘unconventional art fair’
Multigenerational and inclusive. Paris Internationale is an unconventional art fair that puts the value of collaboration at its center. The collegial initiative was founded in 2015 by a group of galleries that now have over ten years of experience, such as Ciaccia Levi (Paris/Milan), Crèvecoeur (Paris) and Gregor Staiger (Zurich/Milan), to support emerging artists and galleries in the Parisian, French, European and international art scene.
Its Public Program functions as a link between gallerists, collectors, curators, artists, and professionals involved in the contemporary art scene, dismantling the boundaries between institutions and the rest of the system, to foster a sense of community and deconstructing the idea of a ‘traditional art fair’ to for an ‘affordable alternative’, both humanly and economically. To be a new model in the ecosystem of international contemporary art fairs, this is the aim of Paris Internationale.
The nomadism of its format is aimed at rediscovering the city’s cultural heritage, with the eager to democratize the exhibition space. Thanks to the free Public Program, as well as the collateral exhibition organized by Cnap, visitors are given the chance to talk to professionals and artists. We spoke with the fair’s Director, Silvia Ammon.
‘Ecosophy’, eco-responsibility and accessibility principles at Paris Internationale art fair
The values of the fair are: Inclusivity, Integrity, Openness and Gratuity. The method: Fairness, Interaction and Experimentation. At the center of the Paris Internationale’s principles there is also the concept of ‘Eco-responsibility’.
The team explains this way: «Its philosophy can be described as an ‘ecosophy’, a project based on improvement». This concept links to the desire to make the fair manageable for visitors in terms of number of galleries participating, that is always a stable number around sixty each year, and as well as a maximum of three artists or projects per gallery. This way the visitor is still engaged but will have a clearer view of the proposals.
Paris Internationale foire, balancing emerging art and long-established galleries
«The multigenerational aspect characterizes our art fair. We are often addressed as ‘the young fair’, ‘the young sister’ of bigger ones, but the generation of the founding galleries now has all over ten years of existence. Each year we include some new young galleries we want the generation of the founding galleries to still be present», to set a line and guide the others –the director explains.
Stability is given by founding galleries and long-term collaborations and the fixed number of galleries participating; inclusivity come from under-represented institutions which are given a chance to participate in the event and propose emerging artists’ projects that otherwise would stay in closed circles, facilitating exchanges. The result is a synergy that makes the fair an opportunity for people to create long term engagement.
The long-standing collaborations include BQ (Berlin), Bureau (New York), Chapter NY, Derosia (New York), greengrassi (London), Kayokoyuki (Tokyo), Kendall Koppe (Glasgow), KOW (Berlin), Max Mayer (Dusseldorf), ROH (Jakarta). «We have an increasing participation of established galleries that participate in big international fair but make a choice to exhibit at Paris Internationale. This is the case of BQ from Berlin, has been participating in Paris Internationale since 2017 and Art Basel for the past twenty years».
This year the fair welcomes twenty new participants: ChertLüdde (Berlin), Empty Gallery (Hong Kong), Gaga (Mexico City), Magician Space (Beijing), Niru Ratnam (London), Petrine (Paris), Piktogram (Warsaw).
Le Central téléphonique Le Coeur as the venue for Paris Internationale art fair 2023 – proposing an alternative location to traditional art fair
This year’s edition spreads across a space of five-thousand square meters and four exhibition floors. The building will re-open to the general public for the first time since its construction: the brick monolith with a concrete structure was built in 1911 by architect Francois Le Coeur on Rue Bergère, near to the Grands Boulevards. At the time, Modernism was taking its first steps and the building is a precursor of Rationalist architecture from the 1920s. Adorned by iron railings and art déco details designed by sculptor Adalbert Szabo, its original function was linked to the ‘telephone boom’ at the start of the 20th century. At the time of its inauguration, it created a scandal, despite receiving architect Auguste Perret’s admiration.
Its under estimation can be considered coherent with Paris Internationale’s spirit of proposing an alternative venue to traditional art fairs. Despite the imposing size of the building, the exhibition design made by Swiss architects Christ & Gantenbein guarantees an intimate experience of the space. The architects introduced walls instead of boxes, changing the common display of art fairs, making the space a sharing hub instead of a closed container.
The fair’s director illustrates how she would like the visitors to experience the space: «The building we have chosen is huge, but the format is intimate. For us the ambition is not to grow the number or size of galleries, but to keep implementing a rather intimate format with a sustainable amount of galleries. Connections are made, collaborations are started between galleries, and visibility given to artists. It also changes the visitors’ experience: it is still a lot to see, but its somehow manageable».
Public Program at Paris Internationale 2023: eco-responsibility, shifting identities, hybridization, taste, excess, eroticism
For this year’s edition, curator Anissa Touati, as well as the writer Marie Canet, have been invited to moderate the Talk Program that celebrates the artists from the Paris Internationale community in conversation with curators from of French institutions such as Le Crédac, Foundation Pernod Ricard, FRAC Corse, MAC VAL museum, MOCO Montpellier, ELaineAlain/ADAGP.
Some of the topics of the conversations include: eco-responsibility, shifting identities, hybridization, taste, excess, eroticism, politics, hypertexts, symbols of power and domination, consumption, consumerism, late capitalism and the economy of goods.
In addition to these is Daily Dérive, a series of talks by personalities of the art world. The title of the format is inspired to Situationist idea of ‘dérive’, encouraging the personal expression into an intimate experience, for individuals that «let themselves be drawn by the attractions of the terrain and the encounters what they found there» (Guy Debord).
The director adds: «This year’s Public Program is a way to celebrate the links between the artists from our community and the public institutions in town, and highlight the work our galleries are doing all year to promote their artist to these institutions. We have chosen some exhibitions happening in Paris and France that are highlighted through talks». Among this year’s partecipants: Arnaud Morand (Saudi Arabia), Eunice Tsang (Hong Kong), Julia Morandeira Arrizabalaga (Paris), Juliet Kothe (Berlin), Sigit Nugroho (Indonesia).
MAINTENANT! in collaboration with Cnap – the partnership of the contemporary art in Paris with Centre national des arts plastiques
For the second year, Paris Internationale has renewed the partnership with Cnap, Centre national des arts plastiques, by organizing MAINTENANT!, an exhibition with works by four selected artists including Eva Barto, Béatrice Lussol, Malik Nejmi, Grout/Mazéas.
The initiative underlines the long-term commitment to artists and to their research, showing the public where it is now, as the title of the project suggests in French. The director explains something more about the collaboration: «Cnap has a national art collection,, other than a series of support programs for artists, galleries, editors. What we are highlighting with this collaboration is the work of artists that have received the support of Cnap».
Paris Internationale, an accessible art fair
Alongside the galleries, the fair will have two restaurants and an independent bookshop curated by After 8 Books. The director underlines the significance of the collegial spirit: «The free entrance as well as access proposals like the Public Program, the bookshop, restaurants options, and terrace accessible to visitors are all combined to make an accessible experience».
Paris Internationale 2023
Paris Internationale is a collegial initiative established in 2015 as an innovative alternative to traditional art fairs to support a new generation of galleries.
Over its eight editions, it has developed into a platform to promote the work of emerging artists and rediscover more established figures.
The 9the edition of the fair is organized by Ciaccia Levi, Crèvecoeur and Gregor Stagier galleries, directed by Silvia Ammon. will take place at 17 rue du Fbg Poissonnière , from October 18 to 22, 2023.
