Monday, August 20, 2007

French Kiss from the Stravinsky Fountain


Bons baisers de Floride! If you've been to Paris, you've seen this fountain, I'm sure. You may not know, howerver, that Niki de Saint Phalle, artist of this kinetic sculpture, spent her childhood in New York, and returned to Paris only in 1951. She, along with artist and husband Jean Tinguely, joined the New Realist group in 1961 and began works of quite a unique distinction. As I mentioned here (in May 2005) this is located in the Stravinsky fountain in the 3rd arrondissement.

25 comments:

  1. No i've never seen it, Eric! Bisous to you too. It's a great sculpture.

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  2. I like this picture. I like that you isolated the "kiss" part from all the rest.

    The style of the sculpture (also called Fontaine des Automates, I think) is more reminiscent of the US than Paris, in my opinion. It's bold, bright, in- your-face, a little like Beaubourg felt to the Parisians when it was built, and the first time you see it, it does feel a little out-of-place. Well, the first time I saw it, at least. I guess nowadays anything goes :-)

    How old is that sculpture anyway?

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  3. Oh, never mind, you just said it in the other post "it was created in 1982/83". Ooops.

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  4. I wonder what happened to the Nose they had at the Luxembourg Garden? Any other bigger-than-life body parts spread around in Paris? Just curious ;)

    (Great shot, really!)

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  5. I knew what this was the moment I saw the thumbnail, since my wife and I always go to the Pompidou when we visit Paris. There is a large exhibition of Saint Phalle's work in a public garden in Chicago (the Garfield Conservatory) this year. My son, U "R" Us, author of one of the two Chicago CDPBs, posted several pictures of it earlier this year. Walking up on this sculpture for the first time is very disconcerting. The other water sculptures in the background multiply the effect.

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  6. As Satchmo might say, "Here's a kiss to build a dream on."

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  7. Yes I did see it near the Beaubourg! I took a couple of pictures there too, it´s irresistable to do so!

    Anon, as I recall, another huge body part spread around Paris is the big head and hand in front of Eglise Saint-Eustache.

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  8. Saw it just once many, many years ago, and only from a distance, but at any time I want to see it in motion all I have to do is pop in one of my old French in Action videos, and VOILA, there are those beautiful lips at the beginning of each of the 52 half-hour educational series.

    Eric, we say here in the Panhandle of Florida, that it is always 10 degrees hotter in the south of Florida. I hope that is not the case as it is HOT enough up here. Maybe Erin blowing by offers enough of a breeze to keep you comfortable? I hope you are enjoying yourself.

    Loraine

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  9. I never been to Paris (yet)...but I will visit a lot of places you posted about..one day:)

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  10. That fountain really is fun with all the odd shapes, the lips, and everything spewing water. Very Salvador Dali, numerous bizarre elements within one dynamic composition.

    Hope you're not getting too wet, Eric, as your plan was to escape rain! Looks like clear weather today, though, and
    Life can be so sweet
    On the sunny side of the street.
    (Continuing the Satchmo theme.)

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  11. Mwouah! comme on dit ici. Bonnes vacances.

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  12. That's the key word, Zsolt, "yet". It is how I feel about Hungary. Haven't been there "yet" but when I do visit, next year perhaps, I plan to see many of the places you and Zannie show in your posts. By the way, Happy National Holiday.

    Loraine

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  13. There is a cafe next to the fountain[not the Beaubourg]where I have sat many a time...daydreaming, writing...and even shivering after the sun had moved, and staring at those Niki Saint-Phalle Lips!! Love them...and the way the water sprays through them. Merci ;-)

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  14. After reading up on my local news, I send some kisses to everyone experiencing flooding. Lynn, the people in southern Minnesota now know what England has experienced. Water up to and into their windows, cars swept off highways. From drought to floods. A cartoon kiss near a gentle fountain is much better.

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  15. this place is so amusing just beside beaubourg. bizu!

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  16. Reminds me of Lip Sofa at the Dali Museum. The whole series of mechanical "Thingeys" is fun to see but like things of that type, I don't find lovely to look at or delightful to see. I am back. My blog is working again. Johnny

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  17. I find the fountain a true joy and a delight. It is one of those life enhancing experiences for me, every time I view it.
    Paris is cold today, and DEAD as a doornail. You can easily cross a street if the light is red without risking your life.
    The Herald Tribune said tourism is down this year in France because of the weather.

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  18. Sorry to hear that, phx-cdg, but it means you can get into places more quickly, n'est-ce pas? No wait for the Musees du Louvre or d'Orsay or Beaubourg (Pompidou). And maybe quicker service?

    By the way, on a completely unrelated topic: the last vineyard in Paris, up in Montmarte near the Lapin Agile--is it possible to every acquire a bottle of wine from that vineyard? Is it any good?

    Ok, back to the lips. Hmm...wine, lips, not so unrelated after all!

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  19. A wonderful place to sit and watch the world go by. Pure pleasure!

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  20. Bravo pour la restauration de la fontaine. Elle etait en trés mauvaise état il-y-a un an, et a vachement trompé les enfants.
    Ken - Melbourne

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  21. When I first saw this fountain I also felt it was out of place, but if there's one thing you realize about Paris it's to expect the unexpected and be ready to have your notions about EVERYTHING challenged. I really like the whimsy of this fountain and photo and might I add that is one wet kiss!

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  22. Hmm...I've been to Paris twice and I haven't seen this fountain, because I'd remember if I did! Gorgeous though...and a must-see for next time! As always, a spectacular photo.
    x
    Just a girl

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  23. hello!

    This fountain is actually in the 4th arrondissement, place Igor Stravinsky. Did you know underneath you have a Pierre Boulez's music research center part of Pompidou center called Ircam.

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