Agnès Varda’s Paris: A Cinematic Love Letter to the City of Light- MUSÉE CARNAVALET April 9 – August 24th

Dear Shaded Viewers,
In a groundbreaking exhibition, the multifaceted genius of Agnès Varda takes center stage, offering an intimate glimpse into the artist’s lesser-known photographic oeuvre. The show, “Le Paris d’Agnès Varda, de-ci, de-là,” unveils the pivotal role of Varda’s courtyard-studio on rue Daguerre in Paris’s 14th arrondissement – a creative sanctuary that nurtured her artistic vision from 1951 to 2019.

This retrospective isn’t just another chronological trudge through an artist’s life. Instead, it’s a vibrant exploration of Varda’s Paris – a city that pulsates through her work, bridging the gap between documentary and fiction with effortless grace. The curators have mined Varda’s photographic archives and Ciné-Tamaris collections, presenting a treasure trove of 130 prints, many never before seen by the public. Visitors will be transported to Varda’s courtyard-studio in the 1950s, reimagined as a photographic playground where creativity knew no bounds. The exhibition then fast-forwards to the swinging ’60s, when the space became a hub for cinematic luminaries, reflecting Varda’s evolving artistic circle.

The show doesn’t shy away from Varda’s quirky perspective on Parisian life. Her commissioned portraits and reportage work reveal a city teeming with humor and strangeness, captured through her uniquely off-kilter lens. Cinephiles will delight in the chronological journey through Varda’s Paris-centric films, from the iconic “Cléo de 5 à 7” to lesser-known gems that showcase her obsession with urban minutiae.

In a poignant finale, the exhibition brings us full circle to Varda’s later years, when her courtyard-studio transformed into a garden sanctuary. Here, we see the artist in her element, cultivating both her work and her colorful public persona.

This isn’t just an exhibition; it’s a love letter to Paris, to cinema, and to the indomitable spirit of Agnès Varda herself. It’s a must-see for anyone who’s ever fallen in love with the City of Light or been moved by the power of visual storytelling.
I cannot wait to experience this immersive tribute to Varda’s genius. Having had the pleasure of briefly meeting her around a huge galette des rois years ago in Paris, I feel sure that this exhibition will capture the same warmth, wit, and profound creativity that made her such an extraordinary artist and human being.
MUSÉE CARNAVALET – HISTOIRE DE PARIS
23 rue de Sévigné – 75003 Paris
Later,
Diane
mm
Diane Pernet

A LEGENDARY FIGURE IN FASHION and a pioneer of blogging, Diane is a respected journalist, critic, curator and talent-hunter based in Paris. During her prolific career, she designed her own successful brand in New York, costume designer, photographer, and filmmaker.

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