Cinema history

This is the third time I talk about the “104” (see here and here for previous posts), since 2008 a City of Paris artistic center, after renovation of the buildings which for more than a century had been the place of the municipal undertaker services. I return now and then for different expositions and cultural events. This time it was for a ”Gaumont” exhibition.

“Gaumont” celebrates its 120 years of existence. It’s actually the world’s oldest film company, created in 1895 (Universal and Paramount were not, for example, not founded until 1912).  It got its name from its creator, Léon Gaumont (1864-1946). I’m not going to tell the whole story of the company here, just mention that it of course often has suffered from different economic crises (wars, depression…) … But, today it’s still there after merging with “Pathé”, previously a competitor, created one year later than “Gaumont” by the brothers Pathé. 

Starting by dealing in photographic equipment and soon in films, they also own(ed) and manage(d) a number of cinema theaters in France and abroad, including what once was the world’s biggest one and on which I posted here.

The exposition allows you to watch extracts of some of the hundreds of films that the company has produced, partly in their own studios.  (For a small fee you can also watch complete movies.) 

There are panels where you can study the history of the company, illustrated by posters. I will not list all the movies they have produced, maybe just mention “Les tontons flingueurs” (Crooks in Clover) from 1963 (see top picture), a French “classic”, and “Intouchables” from 2012, obviously the world’s highest-grossing non English-speaking movie.  

You can watch the portraits of all the “stars” in light and sound. 

One room exhibits a large number of costumes and extracts of films are projected.

There is a demonstration of the “diorama” (invented by Daguerre), a popular predecessor to the cinema during the 19^th century, a photo of Léon Gaumont in company with one of the Lumière brothers (in their older days) …

… and a lot of old equipment…

… including a beautiful combined lamp and loudspeaker, produced by Gaumont.

Before closing this post, a few pictures of other ongoing activities at the “104”, shops, a yellow container where you can exchange books … and a bar.

And last: At the moment you can also admire “La Cabeza” de Niki de Saint-Phalle, one of her last works. Inspired by Mexican folklore. It’s giant and you are allowed to touch it, go inside… 

Spidermen and -women

I have the pleasure to be a member of the “Association Artistique Suédoise à Paris”. It’s an association with the task to support Swedish artists working in France - sponsoring, organizing exhibitions and visits to artist workshops, buying art for a lottery among members…. Now and then there are also some events, which are not necessarily linked to Sweden. This was the case last week, when we visited “104 – Centquatre” (the name comes from the address, 104, rue d’Aubervilliers).

The place we visited is since 2008 an artistic centre for the City of Paris. I made a post about it just after the opening. The place is a bit off the road and had some beginner difficulties which now seem to be overcome. A lot of cultural and artistic activities are now taking place in these large premises of which the major part dates from 1873 and then were occupied by undertaker services. From 1905 on, when the separation of Church and State took place in France, the undertaking services were managed by the City of Paris, having the city monopoly until 1993. All funeral services ended here in 1997. During its peak days, some 1400 people worked here.

So, it was fortunately decided not to destroy these remarkable buildings and after a few years of reconstruction, the place was thus opened in 2008 for its new tasks.

Apart from the large halls there are a lot of smaller spaces where artists can perform, exhibit … and work, prepare, rehearse…

Other activities include shops, cafés … and a nursery-garden, where kids - and parents – are “taught” how to play.

With our group we went for a moment down to the basement (which once was a stable for some 300 horses) and where we tried a labyrinth made of corrugated cardboard.

An ongoing exhibition, “In_perception”, offered three points to visit, all with the idea to draw the attention to the difference between perception and reality.

The first one (created by Leandro Erlich) is a false building, laying on the ground and mirrored. This is of course how different fiction heroes are filmed and our group members enjoyed playing Spidermen and Spiderwomen....  (The "real" Spiderman was not present, but I thought I had to add him, giving a helping hand to the president of the association.)

...the second one (created by Lawrence Malstaf) is again some kind of a labyrinth, sometimes with mirrors, sometimes not, which leads to some surprises… sometimes you see yourself, sometimes someone else… or nobody....

… and the third one (created by Veronica Janssens) brought us into a large room, full of dense “fog”. The camera saw better than my eyes, but even so I couldn’t see my feet.  The “fog” changed colours from grey, to blue-green and finally red. This makes you aware of the difficulty to find your way, only making use of other senses than the sight.  

Well, we found the exit.

104

The Paris municipal undertaker services were occupying this 1873 building as from 1905 until 1997, as a monopoly until 1993. In 2001 it was decided to make it to an artistic centre for the City of Paris and heavy reconstruction work has been made. It was opened officially October 11 and got the name of “104”, from its street address, 104 rue d’Aubervillers.

In total some 39 000 m² (420 000 ft² or 9.5 acres) offer room for all arts, exhibitions, concerts... There will also be a library, restaurants, bars... , but the day I was there, a few days after the inauguration, the place was still in preparation. I hope I will get some good reasons to return.