Flàneries

Newsletter - #30

"Question the familiar. But precisely those things we’ve grown so used to that we no longer notice them, the things that no longer surprise us, the things that no longer even prompt us to ask a question."

Georges Perec

Ciao a tutti!

This monumental installation by the artist JR has been erected in the heart of Paris, on one of the two spans of the Pont Neuf. It was supposed to be open by now, but due to some damage caused by bad weather, Parisians and tourists will have to wait a few more days before they can walk across it. I’ll tell you more about it later, once I’ve experienced it for myself; even now, it’s certainly breathtaking.

It’s another way of experiencing Paris, a city that never ceases to captivate. With the arrival of summer, the banks of the Seine draw crowds of people, particularly young people: I’m always intrigued to imagine their stories of hope and the future.

Surprisingly, though, I’m always fascinated by small villages too. Like the ones in Liguria that I’ve had the chance to visit recently: in Taggia, near Sanremo, for example, I found pockets of silence that seemed to exist in a world of their own, where only the washing hanging out to dry gave any hint that there was ‘life’ there.

Returning to the cultural vibrancy of Paris, however, I received an unexpected treat: Bungaro, one of the artists I’ve been following for many years (ever since 1991, when he performed in Sanremo Music Festival), was in town for a concert at a theatre in Montmartre. It was a surprise for me, a truly magical experience. His voice, guitar and xylophone created a unique atmosphere. It was just a shame that his performance was limited to 30 minutes, given that other artists were also performing.

I conclude by returning to iconic venues transformed, effectively bringing us full circle from where we began at the Pont Neuf. May is the month of Roland Garros, the French Open, and the city goes wild for this sporting event. Even without big names like Sinner and Alcaraz, the tournament transforms the city: Place de la Concorde, for example, hosted the ‘Tribuna Concorde’ during the final days of the tournament, bringing tennis to the famous Parisian square. I documented this moment: one hour, one semi-final, a series of images.

You can download the PDF and watch the whole sequence by clicking on the link below. Enjoy!

I hope you're all well.

À bientôt,

Luca

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