Art & Culture in Paris

During my two months in Paris, I visited eight museums, a number not even comparable to the total that exists in this beautiful city. Fortunately, my student visa got me into most of them for free! If not free, my visa made most activities discounted, which is a fantastic perk for students exploring Paris. 

As an artist myself, I have the utmost respect for the arts. However, one of the many things I learned about myself while abroad is that I definitely enjoy contemporary visual art more than some of the older works that I saw. Out of all of these fabulous museums that I visited, my favorite was by far the Atelier des Lumières, or the workshop of lights. 

I had been wanting to go to the Atelier des Lumières since my arrival in Paris, after hearing so many good things about it from Damon Dominique, an American expat living in Paris. He is a YouTuber who has a work visa to make videos about France or in French. I would definitely recommend watching his videos if you’re curious to know more specifically about Paris, or if you simply want to hear the French language! 

While the word “museum” is not directly in the title, the Atelier des Lumières is in essence a museum where the work performs. When you enter, you walk into a dark room where a series of exhibits are shown in the form of light projections on every surface that surrounds you. The floor, ceiling, and even the people that roam the room are covered in light while music plays. On March 13, I was able to see the four exhibitions that the Atelier offered: “Monet, Renoir and Chagall” by Gianfranco Iannuzzi, Renato Gatto, and Massimiliano Siccardi, “Infinite Blue” by Yves Klein, “Moments” by Melt, and “Journey” by Nohlab. My time at this museum probably lasted an hour and a half. I think the reason this particular museum stood out to me was because it made visual art a performing art. This transformation between two worlds of art was magical and inspiring. As a mover, I appreciated this spin on seeing visual art works. Personally, it made the works more tangible-feeling and relevant. It brought works of the past, especially in the “Monet, Renoir and Chagall” exhibit, into a more modern, present-day illustration. And interestingly enough, a few weeks prior, my program visited the Musée d’Orsay, where we were each assigned an artist to investigate. My artist was Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Seeing the works I had observed at the Musée d’Orsay by Renoir come to life at the Atelier was magnificent, and again something I may never be able to accurately encompass in words. I’ll insert pictures below, although they will not compare to the real experience. It was one of my all-time favorite locations, and if you are ever in Paris, I would absolutely take the time to visit. 

Speaking of the Musée d’Orsay, again from the list of museums I visited, this one probably spoke the most to Paris. Previously the Gare d’Orsay, a train station, this museum transformed and by 1986 became home to a collection of works from the Impressionist movement and more. Artists such as Degas, Manet, Monet, Van Gogh, and Renoir, fill the museum that overlooks the Seine River. Not only does this museum house many French works between the mid 1800s and early 1900s, but the structure of the museum itself is recognition of the former Orsay station, drawing on the past of Paris. The clock that has become the symbol for this museum is the original station clock, and again the architecture and location by itself is a historical work. I felt the most connected to Paris in this museum. 

One museum I wish I had gone to is the Musée Carnavalet. This museum is about the history of Paris. I never made it here, but I wish I did, as I would have loved to learn even more about the city that I was living in. And I am sure I walked by this museum a million times, because it was in the Marais district where my dance courses were! Well, now I guess I just have to go back!!

I would recommend any of the museums below if you are ever visiting Paris. You can search days when they may be discounted, or on the first Sunday of every month there are an endless number of free museums to go to. Each has something different to offer, and even if you may not love visual art, you may find interest in places like the Atelier des Lumières, where the artwork comes to life. There are so many wonderful museums to explore in Paris and I only wish I had more time in this city to see even more.

Museums I visited:

-Le Louvre

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-Musée d’Orsay

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-Musée d’Orangerie

-Jeu de Paume 

-Le Centre Pompidou (I didn’t take any photos here- although it is an amazing museum/library/café – look it up if you are interested!).

-Petit Palais 

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-Musée Rodin

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-Atelier des Lumières

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