Welcome to This Week in Culture, a weekly agenda of show openings and events in major cities across the globe. From galleries to institutions and one-of-a-kind happenings, our ongoing survey highlights the best of contemporary culture, for those willing to make the journey.
Paris
“Arab Presences: Modern Art and Decolonisation: Paris 1908–1988”
Where: The Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris
When: April 5 – August 25
Why It’s Worth A Look: The exhibition, which features a selection of over 200 works (most of which have never before been exhibited in France), explores a different history of modern art, one still little known in Europe—that of Arab modernism.
Know Before You Go: In addition to featuring rarely shown artists, the exhibition explores the essential role Paris played in the development of the Arab avant-garde as a breeding ground for anti-colonial networks and new cosmopolitan modernities.
“Vehicular & Vernacular” by Stephen Shore
Where: Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson
When: June 1 – September 15
Why It’s Worth A Look: Missing home on your travels abroad? Stephen Shore’s classic photographs of the American road—from Los Angeles to the deep South—are on view, alongside lesser-known works never before shown in France.
Know Before You Go: The photographer’s most recent series, shot using drones, is exhibited for the first time in Europe here.
Marseille
“Naturist Paradises”
Where: Mucem
When: July 3 – December 9
Why It’s Worth A Look: This show takes the viewer on a journey through naturist (aka nudist) communities, from Germany and Switzerland to France, with a selection of photographs, films, drawings, sculptures, and everyday objects.
Know Before You Go: One Tuesday a month, the Mucem is allowing visitors to enjoy the “Naturist Paradises” exhibition au naturel. When in Marseille…
Saint Paul de Vence
“Bonnard-Matisse, a friendship”
Where: Fondation Maeght
When: June 29 – October 6, 2024
Why It’s Worth A Look: The exhibition takes the friendship between artists Pierre Bonnard and Henri Matisse as its central theme, finding connection in their shared links with the Maeght family—themselves celebrated art dealers and publishers.
Know Before You Go: The Fondation Maeght is marking its 60th anniversary in tandem with the exhibition, and will be staging dance performances, concerts, readings, documentary films, and lectures in celebration.
Montpellier
“Descent into Paradise” by Kader Attia
Where: MO.CO.
When: June 22 – September 22
Why It’s Worth A Look: For this exhibition, Kader Attia takes the building of MO.CO. as his starting point, exploring ideas around verticality, history, and the present in relation to spirituality and language. Among the new works on view are two large-scale installations, one featuring a film shot in Thailand.
Know Before You Go: Travel plays an important role in Attia's work, and for good reason: His childhood was shaped by the many trips back and forth between France and Algeria, where his family is from.
Rodez
“Lucio Fontana: Un futur c’é stato. Il y a bien eu un futur”
Where: Musée Soulages Rodez
When: June 22 – November 3
Why It’s Worth A Look: Along with Amedeo Modigliani and Giorgio de Chirico, Lucio Fontana completed a trifecta of genius 20th-century Italian artists. Nearly 60 years after his death, he is the subject of a retrospective in the southern city of Rodez, the birthplace of another late great Pierre Soulages.
Know Before You Go: Included in this show are two Ambienti Spaziali, Fontana’s curved neon arabesques, one of which was originally presented at the ninth Milan Triennial in 1951 and the other from the Galleria del Deposito in Geneva, 1967.
Porquerolles
“The Infinite Woman”
Where: Fondation Carmignac
When: April 26 – November 2
Why It’s Worth A Look: Curated by Alona Pardo, this exhibition draws on ideas of myths and monsters in the representation of women to reflect on womanhood in its many forms, from goddesses to femme fatales.
Know Before You Go: The Fondation Carmignac is located on Porquerolles, the same island where Anna Karina portrayed a murderous femme fatale in Jean-Luc Godard’s 1969 film Pierrot Le Fou. Something in the water, perhaps?
Arles
"The Life of Sculptures" by Erika Verzutti
Where: LUMA Arles
When: June 30, 2024 – Spring 2025
Why It’s Worth A Look: Developed during her residency at LUMA Arles from May to July 2024, Erika Verzutti’s “The Life of Sculptures” showcases a new body of work that conjures associations of fruits, bodies, and landscapes.
Know Before You Go: The Brazilian Verzutti, whose work has been compared to that of Brancusi, is known for her playful eroticism and ability to shock—all of which is on display here.
Vitry-sur-Seine
“Human Autonome: Déroutes”
Where: MAC VAL
When: April 26 – September 22
Why It’s Worth A Look: Featuring artists such as A.K. Burns, Cady Noland, Ed Ruscha, Frieda Toranzo Jaeger, and Mark Leckey, this exhibition takes the automobile as its main subject, examining it as a paradoxical object that is at once loved and despised.
Know Before You Go: The exhibition brings together 50 artists from different generations, lending varying perspectives on the symbolism of automobiles across time.
