Paris Update Art Notes
PRIVATE VIEWS
“Full Lake” (2012) by Haeri Yoo.
“Hidden restaurants,” i.e., restaurants in private homes, have been all the rage in Paris for some time, but the latest trend seems to be “hidden art exhibitions.” Last weekend, I went to the openings of two shows, each in a handsome private apartment, both of which can be visited by appointment.
In the 16th arrondissement, journalist Sunhee Choi and Jari Lager, director of Union Gallery in London, have put together an excellent show of the work of 12 contemporary Korean artists, among them painter Haeri Yoo, whose work is included in the Saatchi Collection in London. The energy and vibrant colors of her paintings call to mind the best of Willem de Kooning. Once you have finished studying them, take a good look at the white pillar nearby in the first room of the exhibition; otherwise you might not notice that part of it is crumbling away to reveal a surprise – it is actually an installation by Shan Hur, whose goal is to make us think about what is art and what is not. Soon Hak Kwon, a student at the Royal College of Art in London, has contributed three large, handsome photos, each made up of hundreds of digitally united shots. You’ll also find examples of conceptual, video and digital art on show.
In another posh area of Paris, the seventh arrondissement, the paintings of Marie Hugo are being shown by
Galerie sans Murs in an elegant, high-ceilinged apartment complete
A view of the Marie Hugo exhibition. © Konstantin Lucas Mikaberidze
with boiseries, crystal chandeliers and the original 18th-century wall paintings. Hugo has inherited the artistic talents of her ancestor, Victor, and her father, the painter Jean Hugo. Her beautifully simple, almost calligraphic black-and-red-ink paintings on paper and canvas stand out in this classic setting.
The exhibition of Korean artists will be on show through June 17. Call 06 23 95 07 32 to make an appointment. The Marie Hugo show continues through April 29. Contact: galeriesansmurs@gmail.com or 07 87 64 94 53. Heidi Ellison
Favorite