FIAC

FIAC is a contemporary art show that dominates Paris every fall for one weekend. Hundreds of galleries are invited to show their work and present the artists that they find influential, with the hopes of making a sale and creating some buzz. FIAC this year was held in the Grand Palais and the large space was divided up into hundreds of small white cubes in which each gallery could claim and creates its own space. Within each of these spaces the artwork must be presented, but also there are tables, chairs, lighting, and special arrangement that must be taken into consideration. The challenge of creating these mini exhibitions is making an environment that is engaging, but also practical. “In addition to identifying the critical components of displays, it is also important to establish how these components complement and reinforce each other in a system of representation” (23, Moser) 

My initial reaction to the space is that it can be extremely overwhelming. Tackling the entire thing in a couple of hours is a challenge and you start to feel like you’re looking at the same space over and over again. Fortunately throughout the space there are small places to rest and eat, so a visitor is able to stop and take in the somewhat chaotic atmosphere. Unlike museums this space what not chronologically ordered, there was no sense of time, since the art work was created at different stages. There was not even a sense of category because most of the galleries were from different countries, but they were not placed together. The only common theme was that if the gallery was prominent and had a rather large collection they were given bigger spaces towards the front, and if they were smaller and had only one or two pieces they were mixed in among the masses.

The concept of the white cube is often what baffles me most about art conventions. The white cube is a generic space that has white floors and ceilings there is little character to it, yet it is the main formula for an art gallery. As I wondered around I kept thinking of how a gallery could make themselves stand out, change the cube, give it color, give it sounds. However, would that take away from the artwork? “The minimalist art-gallery approach sees objects presented as esthetic icons and powerful symbols of cultural identity.” (27, Moser) This idea goes with the self-importance that contemporary art carries. That one piece of art can change a mindset. 

The most interesting part of these exhibitions is to see what is actually selling and what artists and curators are inspired by. It’s strange to say, but through these galleries, an audience can get a decent understanding of how society is viewing the world. Yes, a lot of art is made for pleasure or to aesthetically enhance a room. However, there are artists that create for reaction, and have a purpose in what they want to say. The challenge is getting their message out there in a way that an audience can receive it and an exhibition space can deliver correctly. 

Work Cited

Moser, Stephanie. "The Devil Is in the Detail: Museum Displays and the Creation of Knowledge." Museum Anthrogology.