This year La Nuit Blanche will be a celebration of contemporary art designed to transform the city by incorporating public spaces. José-Manuel Gonçalvès, the Directeur Artistique, has organized a grand artistic promenade in the city of Paris. More than fifty international artists will be participating to help provide installations in the public spaces and parks within the city. The concept is both geographical and international. Street art and interactive art will join the many museums in Paris that open their doors to the public on this festive night.
The heart of the “randonnée”, or long promenade, will be at the Hôtel de Ville where Motoi Yamamoto will have a bigger than life labyrinth installation. Yamamoto lives and works in Tokyo. He is known for his installations using patterns such as a carpet of leaves to express meditative beauty through designs. He patiently kneels for hours while he traces with salt (a symbol of life and purification) large drawings in a gesture similar to the repetitive mantras of a monk. He will be drawing such a piece in the salle des Tapisseries de l’Hôtel de Ville for a metaphysical and fascinating experience.
A few steps from the Hôtel de Ville is BHV where a video will be projected by the cinematographer, Tsai Ming-liang. In close proximity to these events are nearly twenty other installations under the title of “les futures composés” in the 4th arrondissement.
The other focal points for your enchanted evening stroll are the Pantheon in the 5th, parc Montsouris in the 14th, Montparnasse and Hôpital Necker in the 15th, Parc Georges Brassens in the 15th and along the Seine between Gare d’Austerlitz and Gare Masséna in the 13th.
