Monday, October 08, 2007

Nuit Blanche


Paris streets were very busy last Saturday. Not only did a lot of people go down the streets to celebrate the victory of France, but on top of that it was also the night of La Nuit Blanche (White night), an event that has been taking place in Paris since 2002. During La Nuit Blanche, Parisians can enjoy hundreds of artistic events, especially made to be seen at night. This year, the main theme was "digital art", like these interactive 3 screens that I photographed Place du Palais Royal in front of Le Conseil d'état. Great fun!

18 comments:

  1. I was in Paris for the first Nuit Blanche! It was phenomenal! How long did you stay out enjoying the fun, Eric?

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  2. This looks like a great event, particularly with the digital theme this year.
    Judging from the looks of it, this installation was accompanied with music from large speakers on tall stands. What was being pumped out of those? Bet it wasn't gypsy jazz, rather some scrambled brain electronically generated sounds appropriate to the imagery and the technique used in creating those dots. I wonder what Eric Satie would be doing this year if he were still around and vital.
    http://www.af.lu.se/~fogwall/satie.html

    Also, it was good to see the photo of Ham and you yesterday!

    Steverino in Chicago where our huge Marathon race was "canceled" half way through it because of the oppressive heat and humidity, even early in the morning.

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  3. Bonjour Eric,

    First of all, congratulations to you and France for advancing into the finals of the Rugby World Cup. Let's hope France will create history by winning the cup!

    Is La Nuit Blanche an annual event (once a year)? I'll be visiting Paris in mid november...will there be another one?

    A photolicious blog:
    www.veryclicky.blogspot.com

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  4. i read in the dutch newspaper about La Nuit Blanche. I always like when there musuem are open at night. I'm an big fan of digital art. great shot Eric. And with pain in my heart good luck in the semi finals.

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  5. I've not been in General Lafayette cafe, but I do recognize the Place du Palais Royal. I love this spot, always walk through it, and it's near Degas' view of the Comedie Francais and l'Opera.

    (Jacques didn't know...Eric caught on quickly, the clever guy. I wish I could learn French that easily.)

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  6. Oops...it's Pissarro's painting of Avenue de l'Opera, not Degas'.

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  7. So much always going on - this looks fabulous. (I left another comment on yesterday's)

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  8. That would have been a perfect night without these dumb kids who forced the entrance of Musee D'Orsay and ripped off a Monet's painting!

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  9. I love this photo, I recognized the Palais Royal patio immediately. But I´m very sorry to just have read on the papers that during nuit blanche some stupid people broke into Musée D´Orsay and damaged one of Monet´s painting. What an awful thing to do!

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  10. Wow, what fun! This is making me seriously consider coming to Paris while La Nuit Blanche is going on! These screens in particular remind me vaguely of an exhibit I saw at the St. Louis Art Museum a few years ago. There were a bunch of "rooms" set up, all decorated in different wonderful artistic ways. My favorite was a digital art room, with different art projected onto each wall. One wall was fractal, one looked a lot like a lava lamp, one cycled through various designs, and the art on all walls was constantly moving and changing. Since then I've vowed to have a room just like it someday. Either that or space (as in outer space) projected on all walls, floor, and ceiling.

    Anyway, don't forget to visit STLdailyphoto for it's 100th day celebration. There's cookies!

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  11. SOMEBODY DAMAGED A MONET???!!! I'll tear 'em limb from limb! I need to read about this...

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  12. Ah, I've read some news now. Even with Eric's great photo, I feel like crying over the Monet painting. The Pont d'Argenteuil is such a classic Monet. I hope they catch the vandals and flay them. Perhaps the rat catcher's window near Les Halles needs a new display: Le Vandal Mort.

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  13. Sounds like a job for a super sleuth Soosha...hurry up and get here. I see you've raised more money. Maybe for your 100th post your readers are sending you birthday gifts.

    The French do this stuff so well. Wonder if they can do as a good a job balancing the budget this year or not.

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  14. I have always wanted to be in Paris for Nuit Blanche but haven't had that experience yet. I have spent many wonderful days in the Musee d'Orsay however, and as an Art Major in college I am deeply troubled as to why anyone would destroy this beautiful Monet or any other work of art for that matter. Not just in France, but all over the world society seems to degenerate more each year. Sad...very sad.

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  15. What a fun event! Was that the same event last year where you took the photo outdoors where everyone was dressed in white for dinner near the Champs-Elysees? You all have too much fun in Paris!

    I can't believe it about the Monet - how horrible!

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  16. Tonton-Flaneur, I agree about the degeration of society. I refer to it as "devolution". Civilization is not a natural state of affairs.

    Turning and turning in a wandering gyre
    The falcon cannot hear the falconer
    ...

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  17. Quelle superbe initiative! Et une superbe photo!

    Oh et bravo les bleus!! Je lis ton blog pour me tenir à jour des résultats. :D

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