Grand Trianon & Petit Trianon

A trek through the rainy gardens of Versailles led me to discover the Grand Trianon château, a palace of dreamy pink marble and porphyry.

On my walk from the Grand Trianon to the Petit Trianon I passed through what seemed like a charming little village, far less ostentatious than the exquisite palaces.

Fueling my garden adventure was earlier sustenance that took the form of some delicious Angelina pâtisserie, washed down with the infamous Angelina chocolat chaud (hot chocolate). Sugar rush galore!

When I reached the Petit Trianon château it had me wondering where the delicious count Axel von Fersen or rather Jamie Dornan was hiding?!?! Ah, I’m a total sucker for Sofia Coppola’s film Marie Antoinette (2006) with its stunning mise-en-scène, costumes, etc.  –  j’adore.

The initials M.A. for Marie Antoinette in the wrought iron stair railing.

Even the door, knob and lock were works of art.

Château de Versailles in the Rain

Visited the breathtaking Château de Versailles and needless to say, I’m ready to relocate and move in for good come tomorrow! What an example of outstanding craftsmanship. Here are some of my snaps.

The Royal Chapel.

The Hall of Mirrors.

The Garden.

Opéra national de Paris, Palais Garnier

Galeries Lafayette, Paris

Pierre Hermé macarons.

When in Paris one shops, so I visited the department store Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussmann, near Opéra national de Paris Palais Garnier, to do just that.

The interior architecture with its exquisite art nouveau stained glass cupola is quite the sight.

Galeries Lafayette Gourmet with its fine food deli and marketplace full of mouth-watering delicatessen was a true sensory delight.

An assortment of fresh tortellini.

Charcuterie.

Loose-leaf tea at La Route des Indes.

The pâtisserie of my dreams. Pink, pink, and more pink with framboises (raspberries – which I love!), oh and let’s not forget about chocolate… drool! While in Paris, I’ve even tried pink sparkling raspberry wine.

Paris Fondation Louis Vuitton

The Fondation Louis Vuitton art museum/cultural center appeared to be just as packed and busy as I would imagine it was when it first opened its doors back in 2014. After queuing (which I detest) outdoors for almost an hour without a pre-booked ticked, I finally made it past the airport-style security check and made it inside.

As I typically frequent Tokyo’s Espace Louis Vuitton whenever I’m back home in the city, I was excited to discover what the more expansive Parisian sister version Fondation Louis Vuitton had to offer.

Works by Paul Gauguin (1848-1903).

The exhibition Icons of Modern Art – The Collection Shchukin, which included works by names such as Gauguin, Matisse, Picasso, Cézanne, Monet, etc. was on display and its exhibition catalogues were selling like hot cakes in the gift shop.

Woman in Black, c.1876, oil on canvas, by Auguste Renoir (1841-1919).

Works in the permanent collection by Alexandre Rodtchenko (1891-1956).

An initial sketch (2014) by renowned architect Frank Gehry for the Fondation Louis Vuitton building, shown as part of the permanent exhibition Architectural Journal Frank Gehry.

Architectural model for Fondation Louis Vuitton.

Palais de Tokyo, Paris

Pedro Barateiro, Rumor (Workers), 2015, sculptures in MDF and cement.

Visited the immense Parisian contemporary art center/”anti-museum” Palais de Tokyo. With a total surface area of some 22,000m², there’s a lot to discover. My visit included two temporary exhibitions (1) Taro Izumi, “Pan” 2) Emmanuel Saulnier, “Black Dancing”) on the ground floor and then a vast, more permanent space downstairs. I’ve selected some snapshots of my favorite elements.

Emmanuel Saulnier.

Emmanuel Saulnier.

Mel O’Callaghan, Performance: To Hear with My Eyes, 2017.

The space at Palais de Tokyo is fantastic with its high ceilings, raw, industrial feel. I feel right at home as it reminds me of the big galleries that I used to frequent in Beijing’s 798 Art District. It’s also a bit of a déjà vu to my days spent at Central Saint Martins in their re-purposed, industrial building in Granary Square, King’s Cross.

In Paris

I’m back in Paris, ready for an injection of art, culture and inspiration.

But let’s not forget about the heavenly pâtisserie, fromage, vin, etc. Oh mon Dieu! What an indulgence this will be!

Arc de Triomphe.