Paris, France — Fetiches from the Congo, ancient Japanese Buddhas, depictions of the Gods of Ancient Egypt, the clubs of power and prestige from Oceania, headrests from Africa for elaborate coiffures. Parcours des mondes, the art show devoted to tribal and Asian arts and archeology, once again emerged on the Parisian art scene this fall with the 21st show being held once again in the Beaux-Arts neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés from September 6th to September 11th. The show brought together a stunning and rich array of objects from Parisian galleries but also visiting galleries from all over the world who are hosted by Parisian galleries.

This year marked a strong return of galleries from abroad who had waited out the health situation over the past two seasons. Tribal arts headed out of Australia, the United States, Belgium and beyond to participate in this show which is regarded by many collectors as simply the best international tribal arts show in the world. And it is totally accessible to the public as well as collectors who also come from all over the world. This year’s edition, explains its organizers, specifically aims to shed light on the non-European arts.

The show brought together some 47 participants and visitors could enjoy 18 thematic exhibitions. A stand-out was to be found at the Gravida Gallery (where the show will go on until November 15th) juxtaposing a collection of fetiches from the Congo with the contemporary works on paper of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Entitled Resonance: Jean-Michel Basquiat and the Kongo Universe it brings together a spectacular collection of nail fetiches — among the most fragile — emanating from the collection of Belgium’s Musée Royal de l’Afrique Central de Tervuren, the show is being played out in the gallery’s magnificent private mansion on the banks of the Seine.

For its first participation in the show, Duende Art Projects presented a curated exhibition entitled Sweet Dreams showcasing a stunning group of 19th century Southern African headrests juxtaposed with colorful abstract paintings from three contemporary female Ndebele artists. Meanwhile Mingei Japanese Arts presented a superb collection of antique Japanese basketwork decorated with contemporary ikebana flower arrangements along with rare Buddhist statues including one from the 8th century in wood —Torreya nucifera — a Japanese conifer.

Exceptional pieces included a 19th century horned mask of the Guro people of the Ivory Coast presented by the Bernard Dulon gallery and an 18th century Maori nguru a small flute from New Zealand presented by the Entwistle gallery. And a stunning array of Oceanic Art was presented by Michael Hamson Oceanic Art in a space on the rue Jacques Callot.
The Honorary Chairman of this year’s show was Sam Singer, a renowned American broadcaster, collector and lover of non-European art who commented, « I hope to be an ambassador for Parcours des mondes and art premiers and turn on more people to the power, elegance, integrity and life that emanated from tribal arts. »
Parcours des mondes is slated to return to Paris next September
©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette
https://www.parcours-des-mondes.com/en/