This Summer in Art ! Part 1

Oh boy it’s summer indeed ! Today we’re set to hit the highest temperature ever recorded in France so I’m hunkering down early and trying to stick out the day in my tiny little concrete jungle 😬
But before the heat makes it unbearable to even think about stepping outside, I got to enjoy the weekend with some friends which always means : art ! And this is one exhibit I’ve been waiting for for a long time – it’s called Pop’Air and it’s a goddamn delight. Now to be fair, I did not think of this installation as a kids’ exhibit but stepping into it, it makes absolute sense. However I am also a kid – both in my brain and I’m also so small honestly I’ve been mistaken for one outside of elementary schools before – so I felt right at home 😂

So friends, their kids and myself went exploring through this bonkers light and air show full of wonders, sprung from a collective of international artists focusing on inflatable art ! It made its mark in Rome and is now in Paris until mid-August so if you’re visiting, run don’t walk !

I was so busy touching everything and running around that I took almost no photos but I found you some good ones online to give you a peek at the colorful pieces ! These blow-up “fishes” are fountains, filled with sound and ever changing in color. I’m gonna need some in my imaginary future garden now.

And below you’ll see a few fun pieces sprinkled throughout the space :

But there is a pièce de résistance, of course, and a life-changer for me if I’m being honest : the ball pit.

Not only is it a GIANT pool-sized ball pit, all in white, and super chic, but there’s of course of a light show element, and moving parts, it’s just a fabulous space. My only problem with it is you can’t stay in there forever so I’m thinking of buying a ticket everyday until the show closes just to get 15 mins in the pool to end my day. Or maybe I could rent it out for a full day just for me… seems reasonable right ?
Now you may remember my obsession began with Cara Delevingne’s in-home ball pit which I featured late last year, but it turns out my brain made me think I remembered the feeling of a ball pit but that shit was a liiiie ! I hadn’t been in one since I was a tiny child and it was wonderful in way I can’t even describe.
I’ve never wanted a house, but we’re gonna need to remedy that to fit this in the living room and the fishes in the garden.
This is going to cost me big time 😬 Here’s a little extra peek at some other spaces from the exhibit :

Trying to move on, (I can’t), last week I was checking out an exhibit in the delightfully quaint town of Brouage, not too far from my hometown in the south west of France, and discovered a very fun artist by the name of Alben – who makes these huge resin sculptures filled with toys or candy. It’s a super interesting process up close and a very in-your-face piece of art as a result, so I’m very into it ! Here are a few pieces from his collection :

All in all a pretty good week for funky and weird art – I’m going to keep going and find some other cool summer exhibits to check out in my free time so I can share more ! In the meantime, stay hydrated people !

— Marie