Have you visited the Cimintiere de Montparnasse lately? Treasures and sculptures by the unexpected, Brancusi and Niki de Saint Phalle b.1930-d.2001.
Beautiful artist, sculptor and film producer, she belonged to the artistic group of Christo and Gerard Descamps and was married to Jean Tinguely, an artist as well. They were known as the “Bonnie and Clyde de L’art”. While she lived in the US, she was also a model for Vogue, Life and Elle. She expressed her art form in large papier mache figures greatly inspired by the Parc Guel by Gaudi in Barcelona.
In her greatest expose, Le Jardin de Tarots in Tuscany, Niki represented large, colorful sculptures inspired by Tarot playing cards. The park opened in 1998. She also created the Nana, an interpretation of large women, 9 meter high dolls, colorful and extremely playful. These have become part of permanent collections at the Tinguely Museum in Basel, Switzerland as well as in Germany ( Hanover) and Stockholm ( Sweden).
At Montparnasse, a different art…a large solemn wire and mirrored glass angel as a tribute to a friend. Amidst the stone crypts, crosses and stars of David, Montparnasse is home to many known artists and writers as well as French families. Jews and Christians rest in peace, together, side by side. Older sections are more separated by religion, but side by side nonetheless, in large crypts with hand forged artistic gates and stained glass windows. Montparnasse is a true place of peace and a utopia, in which all rest in peace devoid of religion or race. There are still spaces available for 20,000 EU , which buys you a spot , but only if a reservation has been made prior. It is prime real estate in a museum city.
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