This year’s edition of Paris Internationale takes place inside a former telephone exchange. With no elevators, climbing the five flights of stairs is simply part of the charm of the industrial space. Floor by floor, we scouted out the best booths. Here are our Top 10.
Floor 1: Tomio Koyama Gallery
At Tomio Koyama Gallery, find the work of Cambodian artist Sopheap Pich. Don’t be fooled—the simplicity of this bamboo and steel grid belies Pich’s meticulous artistic process, which involves not only growing the bamboo in his own garden, but then repeatedly splitting, tying, and weaving.
Floor 2: Gunia Nowik Gallery, House of Gaga, Sperling, VACANCY
To the right of the stairwell, Gallery Vacancy exhibits Alexandre Zhu’s hyperrealistic charcoal drawings opposite the dreamlike craftsmanship of Hatsune Suzuki. Trek to the far back left corner to find this bow by Hannah Sophia Dunkelberg paired with the abstract paintings of Agata Bogacka, which stopped me in my tracks at Gunia Nowik Gallery. On the way, see Josef Strau’s conceptual and interventionist use of tin in his works at House of Gaga. Find a futuristic vision at Sperling, where Malte Zense’s multi-disciplinary work pulls inspiration from classic films and daily life and Anna Vogel’s latest series imagines a world without humans.
Floor 3: Don Gallery, suns.works
At suns.works, horizontal space dedicated to Ross Simonini’s colorful paintings is contrasted by the monochromatic vertical space dedicated to Julain Göthe’s drawings which reference stage design and geometric motifs. At the far corner of the floor, Don Gallery creates a peaceful and harmonious domestic space with the work of Zhang Peiyun, who draws inspiration from St. Augustine’s idea “to know is to love” and a feeling of home.
Floor 4: Kids Corner
For big kids and children alike, a space for play and a creative reset.
Floor 5: The Breeder, Parliament, Noah Klink
At the entrance of the 5th floor, The Breeder shows the photographs of performance artist Maria Hassabi, executed through the reflection of a gold mirror and investigating the “in-betweenness of bodies in motion.” See also the functional sculptures of Georgia Sagri, who hand blows each glass bubble. Yes, you can sit, but ask first!
Elsewhere on the fifth floor, get an intimate view into Guillaume Valenti’s library (try to spot the cat and all the classical references) on display at Parliament. Right next door, reptilian reigns supreme in Josefine Reisch’s Birkin bags and Gerrit Frohne-Brinkmann playful sculptures, exhibited by Galerie Noah Klink.
Paris Internationale, October 16th – October 20th 2024, Central Bergère at 17, rue du Faubourg Poissonnière. @aaaahhhparisinternationale
