23rd edition of Parcours des mondes in Paris
The most important international event in the field of African, Oceanic, Asian, American, and ar- chaeological art both in terms of the number of galleries and objects on display and the number of visitors it attracts, Parcours des Mondes is preparing for its twenty-third edition, this year under the honorary pres- idency of Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière, who was appointed by Stéphane Martin as his successor. The dates of the show, September 10 to 15, have been known almost since the close of the 2023 edition in order to facilitate planning by the collectors, art lovers, museum curators, independent researchers, and cultural enthusiasts from the four corners of the globe who attend the fair each year. But now the time has come to reveal some highlights of this year’s Parcours des Mondes, which is produced under the direction of Yves-Bernard Debie.
Some sixty international galleries will be exhibiting. For some of them, such as Galerie Gauchet Art Asiat- ique of Paris and Zubek Gallery of Düsseldorf, this will be a first, while for others, it will be a return eagerly anticipated by organizers and public alike. Such is the case of Galerie Furstenberg of Paris, a major force in the field of Pre-Columbian art, and Galerie Ondine et Patrick Mestdagh of Brussels, while Arte y Ritual – Ana & Antonio Casanovas of Madrid will return to Parcours des Mondes after an absence during which they were missed, and this will coincide with the incorporation of their son Damián into their gallery’s team.
This edition of the art fair will also see the return of the Showcase concept initiated last year, this time to be located at 35 Rue Guénégaud. The goal of this Showcase is to provide recently opened galleries the visibility and public exposure that a top-flight event can afford. This year, the space will host the Grégory Chesne Gallery from Lyon, the Christophe Person Gallery of Paris, Galerie Frank van Craen from Brussels, and Galerie Christophe Person of Paris. The latter will present a thematic exhibition in tribute to the recently deceased Malian artist Amahiguéré Dolo (1955–2022), a sculptor, painter, and draftsman whose style lies at the cusp between animism and surrealism. Last year’s Showcase exhibitors, Bruce Floch, Granier I Ancient, and Spectandum, all know how well this exposure works, and this year they are all included on the list of the fair’s full-fledged participants.
As far as the artworks to be offered at this year’s fair are concerned, the key words are “diversity” and, above all, “excellence,” in keeping with Parcours des Mondes’ unyielding standards. As always, these values will be upheld both in the dealer displays, which are always put together with great care and high standards, and in the special ex- hibitions, which combine the same rigorous aesthetic requirements with a deep analytical focus on a particular subject or culture. The following pages provide a pictorial overview of some of these exhibitions. This also is an opportunity to announce the Sculptures event to be held by Guilhem Montagut, an exploration of the contemporary Cuban art scene titled Traits Cubains to be offered by Galerie Vallois 35, and, at Lucas Ratton’s gallery, a presentation of little-known works by Jean Messagier, an artist who, beginning with his earliest works in the early 1940s, always showed a strong affinity for the arts of Africa and Oceania.
The time for the 2024 Parcours des Mondes has arrived. We hope to see you there!
Parcours des mondes - 23rd edition
Beaux-Arts District, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris