Monitor: Travel
A Taste of Tokyo In Paris
Words: Lina D. Russell
Since its opening in January 2001, the new Parisian contemporary art Mecca Palais De Tokyo has been shaking up traditional views of the role of an arts institution. Unafraid to take risks, its varied program includes Tokyo TV -- an artist-run TV station which mimics commercial television formats through talk shows, news, sports and science programs, but they're all run by artists. Currently in its pilot stage, Tokyo TV has attracted over 20 international artists, including the likes of Georgina Starr, Rikrit Tiravanija and Annika Strom in a challenge to examine the future possibilities of TV -- a medium historically out of artists' reach.
In parallel, the Tokyo Games strand commissions artists to examine the culture of video games. This autumn sees the launch of Necropolis, a 3-D environment built by Swedish artist Tobias Bernstrup, in which he explores the relationship between cinema and video games via a journey through a deserted postmodern city reminiscent of Paris.
With its whimsical flash Web site and its ever-changing online artist's projects, Palais De Tokyo might just be the first art center to be truly responding to the changing artistic conditions of the networked space and the complexities of today's media production.
While in Paris also visit:
Surface to Air - This new boutique has the same street smart sensibility as NYC's Alife. 46, rue de l'Arbre Sec 75001 (tel: 01 49 27 04 54)
www.pourlavictoire.com
Colette - Stylish shop with curated merchandise, art, mags and water. 213 rue Saint Honoré 75001 (tel: 01 40 15 63 60)
www.colette.fr
librairie artazart - One very important stop for art and design magazines. 83 quai de Valmy 75010 (tel: 01 40 40 24 00)
www.artazart.com
Parallèles - Great record shop in the same area as Colette. 47 rue Saint Honoré 75001 (tel: 01 42 33 62 70)
Café Charbon / Nouveau Casino - A bar in a very nice area where you can also go to a concert after at Nouveau Casino, "the new trendy live electro place." They share the same location. 109 rue Oberkampf 75011 (tel: 01 43 57 55 13)
www.nouveaucasino.net
Batofar - It's rowdy and it gets hot, but this party on a boat is the real deal.11 quai François Mauriac 75013 (tel: 01 40 33 37 17)
www.batofar.org
Can't make it to Paris this year?
Pick up a copy of the new Paris Guide-DVD, from the former editor of Japanese mag +81. Designers and artists take you to their favorite Paris spots, all with a unique motion graphic style, making this inspiring 68-minute DVD magazine totally unique.
NTSC/Region code: ALL
Price: 3,900 yen
www.nowondvd.net
Buy it at: www.shift.jp.org/factory
Special thanks for Paris tips: Uzik, Lanha and Pleix.
