Art Paris, 25th anniversary (Part 1)

Founded in 1999, Art Paris celebrates its 25th anniversary this year at the Grand Palais Éphémère. The Parisian fair has established itself over the years as a prominent event in the art fair in France and beyond. After more than a quarter of a century of showcasing modern and contemporary art, the fair continues to innovate, promoting French art while exploring foreign creations as well. This 25th edition – from 30 March to 2 April 2023 – is bringing together 134 art galleries from 25 countries. The fair’s guest curators, Marc Donnadieu and Amanda Abi Khalil, have decided to invite visitors to reflect on two societal themes: commitment and exile. The work of over 900 artists will be exhibited, including 16 solo shows and 10 duo shows scattered throughout the fair, which allow for a more in-depth focus on the artists’ work. In addition, 9 galleries have been selected in the Promesses sector dedicated to young galleries and emerging creation. Art Paris is also a pioneer in from an ecological perspective and once again this year, the fair is committed to a unique eco-design approach.

In partnership with Art Paris for many years, Artprice is pleased to offer a three-part interview this year, featuring a) a chat with exhibition curator Marc Donnadieu in which he expounds his vision of the theme of ‘commitment’, b) an interview with the Portuguese-Angolan gallery This is not a White Cube selected in the Promesses sector, and c) a discussion with artist Angèle Etoundi Essamba whose work will be seen at Galerie Carole Kvasnevski and who was selected among the 20 artists in the Art & Commitment route put together by Marc Donnadieu.

Today, we are sharing with you part 1 of the interview.

Marc Donnadieu, exhibition curator

Can you tell us about your curatorial approach for Art Paris? Is it different from a museum exhibition?

It’s totally different since it’s not a question of hanging museum works in a dedicated space within the fair, but of creating a thematic route through the stands of the fair based on a given theme, that of commitment. This route has therefore been developed in close collaboration with the galleries and the artists they represent.

Could you explain how this route will be conducted and what guided your intuition as a curator?

The route will be indicated on the fair’s plan and guide, and small texts accompany each selected artwork on each stand. My overall intuition was guided by the approach of the artists and the works they have produced. I identified various forms of commitment towards art, history, politics, colonialism, society, identity, climate, etc., as well as towards the act of making artworks themselves: a commitment to being an artist and what that means today.

What were your selection criteria for the galleries and artists?

First and foremost, finding works and artists that seemed relevant to the theme I had chosen. The prospecting began right after Art Paris 2022 and was refined throughout the rest of the year. There has always been a high level of ‘newness’ at Art Paris. New applications led to new choices of artists and artworks. Keeping only 20 in the end was difficult. But beyond the 20 selected works for this route, I hope that the idea of commitment to art and to its creation will spread to all of Art Paris 2023 as a whole.

Should the theme addressed be a personal conviction above all?

On the one hand, it reflects a certain history of the art world in France since the 19th century that I wanted to recall, and on the other hand, it reflects our present era. French artistic production seems to me to be increasingly committed to today’s major issues. I simply wanted to highlight that. One could say that it is the personal conviction of the artists, but when it is expressed through an artwork, it gives it a broader dimension and one that everyone can recognize. These are forms of revelation, self-awareness, awareness of others, of the world around us, and of its history.

What is your relationship with the French art scene? Do you think its dynamism is in line with its place on the global art market?

For more than forty years, I have had the immense pleasure of working in the heart of the French art scene. There have been meteoric rises and as well as dark years, but over time, an astonishing degree of renewal. I have more and more confidence in the young generation of artists, gallery owners, and collectors who are taking their first steps today, even though I know that these are often difficult and perilous. Now, it is just a matter of not clipping their wings!

I believe that France has a decisive place in the art market. Look at the number of French galleries present at international fairs or with addresses abroad! Look at the number of foreign galleries that are setting up in Paris! Look at the number of French artists represented by foreign galleries, some of which are top-notch! It’s fantastic! Look at a fair like Art Paris that has focused on the French scene and that is meeting with ever-increasing success! Look at Paris Photo, which is the most important fair dedicated to this medium in the world! Look at the number of foreign curators who come to work in French museums, and, likewise, the number of French curators who work in museums located outside France… and not in the least important ones! What attractiveness! What vitality! What recognition!

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