The Jeu de Paume (I) (at Concorde Square) (literally: "real tennis", site Concorde) (Jeu de Paume (official site)

A review of the Jeu de Paume (at Concorde Square) as a site for contemporary art shows. Note that the Jeu de Paume has two sites, geographically separated. One is at Concorde Square, the other at the Hotel Sully. The first one is the one discussed below.

The building is large -- indeed, it was built under Napoleon III to house a tennis court. Since the beginning of the twentieth century it has been a place for exhibiting art. These days it has two art shows simultaneously on a regular basis, on the ground and second floor. In the basement movies are screened, and art is discussed in the auditorium. Both the ground and the second floor are the size of a rather large gallery. In close cooperation with contemporary artists (who often do a piece for a dedicated exhibition) and contemporary art galleries, the Jeu de Paume manages to set up contemporary art shows usually concentrating on a single rather established yet not too widely known artist. The shows are not always of the highest level, sometimes including young artists with no clear line in their work, or with no special technical ability. Yet, often one of the two shows at least will be inspiring, and will fill the high spacious rooms with some contemporary art magic.

Example shows: Great individual shows on Guy Bourdin, Cyndy Sherman, Rieneke Dijkstra, Tony Oursler, and Michal Rovner, to name a few.

Copyright 2005, by Jan Troost