Palais de Tokyo: La Marque Noire

If you enjoy contemporary art, by visiting Palais de Tokyo you wouldn't be disappointed though at times, like many forms/types of art may put you in a "lost in translation" state. Like the new exhibition "La Marque Noire / Steven Parrino: Retrospective, Prospective" with the three subjects:
1) STEVEN PARRINO RETROSPECTIVE 1981 - 2004
A retrospective that gathers nearly one hundred major works by the artist
2) BEFORE (PLUS OU MOINS)
An exhibition of artists who influenced Steven Parrino
3) BASTARD CREATURE
Based on two exhibitions curated by Steven Parrino (in 1999 and 2003)
Without having any background knowledge of the artists, I was struck by everything exhibited there and wanted to understand the stories behind them. What I could grasp though was their relation to violence, destruction and sex. The whole show was dominated by the colors of black, white, and silver, learned later that these colors are the colors of Harley Davidson. As Parrino was claimed as a biker artist as well as the punk artist, there is no doubt why these three colors play such the main role here. There is an artwork "Electric chair" by Andy Warhol, one of the main references to pop culture that, in part, had influenced Parrino's work.

One powerful piece I personally liked is "Come to my house and cry". There is a set of four televisions showing the videos in mute of different men and women breaking into tears. A very melancholy music was playing in the background. Near the set was this empty untidied bed. I thought to myself if I kept watching it for too long, I could possibly break into tears myself.

The exhibition runs from May 24 - August 26, 2007
Opens: noon - midnight (except Monday)
13, avenue du Président Wilson, Paris
Metro: Iéna