Gardens, a museum, tropical greenhouses and a zoo. The Museum d’Histoire Naturelle includes all of that and more! This is just the season to discover a remarkable historical institution where art and science meet in unexpected ways. And, this month, its 5th Naturalist Art Salon celebrates nature via an amazing array of contemporary paintings, photographs and sculptures.
Apart from its vocation to showcase all manner of specimens from the animal, mineral and plant kingdoms, this spectacular museum boasts a varied collection of naturalist art that chronicles its long history. This year, the salon’s historic section presents an entertaining selection of blown-up illustrations from the Museum’s archives, all focusing on the popular theme of elephants.
The present site was chosen in 1640, by Louis XIII’s physician Guy de la Brosse, for the cultivation of medicinal herbs and plants. An early beacon of scientific research, it was later extended by Cuvier to include animal studies. After the French Revolution, in 1793, the former royal garden was converted into a natural history museum.
A few years later, Napolean actively encouraged overseas expeditions of naturalist researchers to bring back rare examples of flora and fauna, for the state collections. The artists who accompanied these voyages of discovery deployed keen powers of observation in precise paintings and drawings, later used to illustrate scientific manuscripts.
Several generations of 19th century French artists from Delacroix to Gustave Moreau were in the habit of roaming through the zoo to sketch the movements of wild fauves. The early 20th century painter the Douanier Rousseau sought lush tropical plants for his dreamlike jungle settings. Today, many contemporary artists like Christian Boltanski, who works with “cultural perceptions of nature,” have found inspiration in the museum’s rich storehouse of wonders from around the planet.
Each year, various art galleries introduce the work of a number international figures. Look for Claude Lhoste’s superb animal sculptures cast in bronze, presented by Galerie Bernheim-Jeune. This time round, La Hune artist Gaëtan du Chatenet shows intricate botanical watercolor illustrations in the naturalist tradition. While, in the sculpture area, there is great wit and humor to be found in James Chedburn’s gigantic animated rhinoceros and Laurent Chauvet’s zany birdcage. The crowd of tiny crawling insects by Jephan de Villiers are strangely appealing and Sarah Moon’s stunning photograph of birds from the museum collections are not to be missed.
Histoires naturelles — 5e Salon d’Art Contemporain To Jan 14, 10am to 5pm (closed Tue), at the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 18 rue Buffon, 5e, M°Jussieu, tel: 01 40 79 37 69, free
Bestiaire highlights sculptures, engravings and paintings of animals and imaginary beasts. Toucans, cats, frogs and camels invade the Phal gallery’s new location. To Dec 30, Tue-Sat, 2-7pm, 29 rue Mazarine, 6e, tel: 01 43 29 85 35
Calligraphe par Excellence presents the powerful works of Chinese calligraphy master, Yu Qilong, and the abstract tachist landscapes of Yu Danqing. A series of conferences and workshops are scheduled during the exhibition. To Jan 20, Tue-Sat, 11am to 7pm, Comptoire des Ecritures, 35 rue Quincampoix, 4e, tel: 01 42 78 95 10
Cheap-Art Xmas features 30 artists, with over 300 fun and funky works to discover by Diez, Sivan Thierry Guitard and other creative sparks. Prices start at 30F! To Dec 23, daily, 2-7pm, Art’s Factory, 48 rue d’Orsel, 18e, tel: 01 53 28 13 50
James Chedburn’s whimsical, animated wire sculptures play with light and shadow. To Dec 30, Tue-Sat, 11am to 7pm, Galerie R. Treger, 47 rue Mazarine, 6e, tel: 01 46 33 81 60
Chine, la Gloire des Empereurs presents some 200 treasures discovered over a 3O-year period of excavations. Incredibly rich and varied funeral masks, sculpture, intricate gold jewelry and turquoise-incrusted bronze vases are on view, along with photos of the Great Wall of China and abstract paintings by the Chinese artist Zao Wou-Ki. To Jan 28, Tue-Sun, 10am to 5:40pm, Petit Palais, av Winston Churchill, 8e, tel: 01 42 65 12 73, 50F
Cho Duck-Hyun’s major installation Les Chiens d’Ashquelon is based on a fictional account of an exchange between Louis IX and the Mongolian emperor. Iron dogs, supposedly used in an ancient burial rite, race across the museum floor during the event, the first of a series of “Asiatica” exhibitions. To Jan 21, Tue-Sun, 10am to 7pm, Jeu de Paume, 1er, tel: 01 47 03 12 50, 36F
Soundiata Keita reveals over 100 drawings by Konate Dialiba, illustrating epic Malian ballads from the 10th century sung by African Griots. Musical instruments such as the kora, balafon and ngoni enhance this fine show. To Jan 15, daily (closed Tue) 10am to 5:30pm, Musée national des Arts d’Afrique et d’Océanie, 293 av Daumesnil, 12e, tel: 01 43 46 51 61, 30F
