Cultural events

Over 1,000 photographs tracing the exceptional destiny of Jackie Kennedy (1929 - 1994). She who was the wife of the 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, then of billionaire Aristotle Onassis, is still seen as an icon of stylishness and fashion. Until May 24th. Galerie Ferrero, 6 rue du Congrès, Nice (04 93 88 34 44).

From Wednesdays to Sundays, the “Festival Circulations” revealing young European photographers presents exhibits by 46 artists proposing a cross-cultural perspective on Europe. Designer Agnès b. is the sponsor of this edition. Until June 26th. Le Centquatre, 5 rue Curial, Paris 19 (01 53 35 50 96).

On completing the painting “Black, Red over Black on Red” in 1964, Rothko declared that the colours on the canvas came straight from hell. The great choreographer Carolyn Carlson explores the essence of this work through the medium of dance, offering an intuitive dialogue with the painting, set to music by Jean-Paul Dessy. A show with an emotional and sensorial stance. March 12 and 13th. Théâtre de Grasse, 2 avenue Maximin Isnard (04 93 40 53 00).

The Chinese contemporary art scene is taking over the Louis Vuitton Foundation in an exhibition featuring artists such as Cao Fei, Hao Liang and Hu Xu, with a presentation of selected works from the Collection. The event will be accompanied by various multi-disciplinary rendez-vous : concerts, cinema, performances and poetry readings. Until September 5th. Fondation Louis Vuitton, 8 avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, Bois de Boulogne, Paris 16 (01 40 69 96 00).

Over 200 engravings, proofs and corrected, print-ready documents by Marc Chagall comprise this outstanding and unique ensemble of work, on loan from collector Castor Siebel. The exhibition enables viewers to discover the artist’s poetic universe, and especially his remarkable mastery of colour. Until April24th. Centre d’Art la Malmaison, 47 boulevard de la Croisette, Cannes (04 97 06 44 90)

The art and dance centre “Éléphant Paname” is dedicating an exhibition to a pair of star dancers. A series of intense or intimate photographs provides a real insight into the life of these partners, in real life as well as on stage, in shared or parallel moments. Their names ? Nicolas Le Riche and Clairemarie Osta, both star dancers with the Paris Opera Ballet. Until May 29th, Éléphant Paname, 10 rue Volney, Paris 2 (01 49 27 83 33).

Pursuing its exploration of the fruitful friendships that Fernand Léger maintained with his contemporaries, and in particular with writer Paul Eluard, the Fernand Léger Museum proposes a wonderful exhibition built around the moving poem entitled “Liberté”. A powerful universal work, written in 1942. Jusqu’au 7 mars. Musée National Fernand Léger, 255 chemin du Val de Pôme, Biot (04 92 91 50 30).

The famous Szépmuvészeti Múzeum (Fine Arts Museum of Budapest) has joined up with the Hungarian National Gallery to exhibit in Paris the most magnificent items in their collections. As well as offering the possibility of admiring works by Dürer, Cranach, Greco, Tiepolo, Goya, Manet, Gauguin and Kokoschka, the exhibition explores the special relationship between art and this European capital. About 90 paintings, drawings and sculptures take up the challenge of recreating all the splendour of this museum within the small space of the Musée du Luxembourg. From March 9th to July 10th. Musée du Luxembourg, 19 rue de Vaugirard, Paris 6 (01 40 13 62 00).

Sixty young performers from the “Centre de Création Vocale et Scénique” in Aulnay-sous-Bois will be on stage for the first time in Monaco with a new show called “Singing in the Train” ! A trip to the land of musicals featuring extracts from “’Oliver”, “Mary Poppins”, “Billy Elliot”... February 25 and 26th. Grimaldi Forum, 10 avenue Princesse Grace, Monaco (00 377 99 99 20 00).

A prolific producer of paintings, drawings and engravings, Jean-Baptiste Huet (1745 - 1811) embodies “Goncourt taste”, that of an elegant and seductive 18th century, exalting a certain insouciance in the last decades of the Old Regime. In over 72 paintings, graphic works and decorative objects, the exhibition presents the richness of the work of an artist who participated in a decisive way to the success of the famous Jouy fabric. Until June 5th. Musée Cognacq-Jay, 8 rue Elzévir, Paris 3 ( 01 40 27 07 21).

In the first part of the Second World War, Nice and its surrounding region took in many refugees from all over Europe, who were fleeing from the Nazis. One of them was a very young woman called Charlotte Salomon. In over 1,000 gouaches and transparencies overlaid with texts, she produced an impressive body of work in less than two years, somewhere between a graphic novel, a film synopsis and the libretto for an operetta, in which tragedy is paired with scathing irony. Deported to Auschwitz, she died in the gas chambers at the age of 26. The work on display was saved by a doctor in Villefranche-sur-Mer, to whom she had entrusted her collection. Very poignant. Until May 24th. Musée Masséna, 65 rue de France, Nice (04 93 91 19 10).

Unprecedented in Europe for the breadth of its scope, this exhibition invites visitors to immerse themselves in the world of spirits of pre-Columbian Ecuador through one of its major figures : the shaman. The works on display come from four different cultures along Ecuador’s coast. An extraordinary voyage between the various levels of cosmic space. Until May15th. Musée du quai Branly, 37 quai Branly, Paris 7 (01 56 61 71 72).

Fifty performers including Shaolin monks, acrobats, tightrope-walkers and balancing acts make up the new troupe of the Stars of the Circus of Peking. For the first time, these incomparable artistes present a show entitled “The Little Dragon”, a fantasy tale of a child endowed with amazing physical and mental capacities. February 27th. Palais Nikaia, Nice (04 93 45 98 00).

The series of photographs entitled “Drifting” by French artist Olivier Valsecchi presents the architecture of the body taken to an extreme. It is a journey through the history of art, an invitation to re-explore figures from classical painting such as the reclining nude, and Dutch still lifes from the 17th century. From February 5th to March 14th. Opium Gallery, 11 chemin du Village, Opio (04 93 09 00 00).

Following three years of renovation, this Museum dedicated to one of the world’s most famous sculptors has just re-opened its doors. In a small château on the Rue de Varenne, visitors will now discover or rediscover legendary works including “Le Penseur”, “Les Portes de l’Enfer” and “Le Baiser” in a showcase worthy of Rodin’s genius. Musée Rodin, 77 rue de Varenne, Paris 7 (01 44 18 61 10).

A song cycle for voices and piano composed by Franz Schubert in 1827, “Winterreise” is considered to be one of his most somber and moving achievements. Performed as an opera combining concert, video and dance, the show is a marvellous portrayal of a winter journey in the steps of a wandering traveller. February 5th. Opéra, 4-6 rue Saint-François de Paule, Nice (04 92 17 40 00).

Via Design 2016 invites visitors to discover the best prototypes of furniture, fixtures and fittings, lighting, sound systems etc. Offering a real showcase for tomorrow’s design, the 14 projects on display are all financed by the VIA programme supporting creativity in home decor (“Valorisation de l’Innovation dans l’Ameublement”). They have been selected not only for their originality but also for their innovative and eco-friendly design, showing awareness of today’s social, technological and environmental issues. Until March 4th. Galerie Via, 120 avenue Ledru-Rollin, Paris 11 (01 44 68 18 00).

Echoing the retrospective devoted to Gottfried Honnegger (founder of the Espace de l’Art Concret in Mouans-Sartoux) by the Pompidou Centre in the summer of 2015, the Espace de l’Art Concret proposes a hitherto unseen confrontation between a selection of works completed by the artist as a young man in the 1930’s and his most recent offerings. From January 24th to May 22nd. Espace de l’Art Concret, Château de Mouans, Mouans-Sartoux (04 93 75 71 50).

The first exhibition in the Petite Galerie du Louvre invites us to follow in the steps of great founders of legends, from Hercules to Dark Vador. A journey telling how draughtsmen, sculptors, painters, puppeteers, movie-makers and musicians all over the world have endowed them with form and life. Aiming to make this art-form accessible to all, this exhibit of 70 works in four sections is an ideal cultural outing for the entire family. Until July 4th. Le Louvre, aile Richelieu, 99 rue de Rivoli, Paris 1 (01 40 20 50 50).

“Nice Music Live” proposes a series of concerts of contemporary music (electro, world, jazz...). Fans can look forward to performances by the Avishai Cohen Quartet, Yael Naim, and Selif Keita. From February 12th to May 7th Théâtre Lino Ventura et Forum Nice Nord, Nice (www.nicemusiclive.fr).