Joana Vasconcelos, queen of Versailles...

After my days in Capri, I returned to Paris and on Monday 18th I was invited to a private visit (and an afterwards Gala dinner) to Joana Vasconcelos' exhibition in Versailles. This young French-Portuguese artist has been invited to show her works at the Chateau, on the very same salons Louis XIV used to walk. She's not the first... Jeff Koons, Bernar Venet and Takashi Murakami, among others, have been previously invited. 

It's a way of showing how the French are open to the newer talents and not afraid of contrasts... And, oh, such contrasts!!

For instance, this piece is made of red plastic knives and forks as those used, for example, on pic-nics.

Or the huge shoes evoking Marilyn's, made of aluminum pans and pots...

This work, made of wigs, is exhibited on Queen Marie-Antoinette's room...

As it was an exclusive and private visit, I had the privilege of walking those incredible salons, including the Salon des Glaces (newly renovated), almost on my own, before the other guests arrived. That's why I was able to take the pictures I wanted... something usually forbidden!

The most important work, and the last of the exhibition, is the "already" famous pink-feathers-and-Swarosky crystals helicopter... As if conceived for Marie-Antoinette to escape the Revolution...

After the visit, together with the other 450 guests, we had a special dinner at L'Orangerie's Pavillion, catered specially by a chef from Lisboa, called José Avillez...

Among the guests, many members of the Government (past and present) as, for example, the new Minister of Culture, Aurélie Filippetti, young and beautiful. Patrons, journalists, socialités... and in the middle, Joanna Vasconcelos, the artist, dressed with a look inspired in the 18th Century, very appropriate.

I must not forget to mention that she also designed the decorations and center pieces of the tables.

All in all, I liked it very much. I was moved by her audacity (she did not do what she's done at Venezia's Bienale in 2007) and by the constrast between those absurd and fascinating pieces, mingling with one of the most beautiful and meaningful places in the world.