In the morning we went to the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, a contemporary photography museum located in Paris’s Marais neighborhood, and met with Gerard Uferas, one of the photographers whose work is currently on exhibit. Gerard’s show is arranged in three series: “A Phantom with the Opera” (1988-2001), “Fabric of Dreams” (2000) and finally “A Step Towards Stars” (2003-2005), representing Gerard's work over the past twenty years. The photographs of the opera are striking in their beauty, compositions, and tenderness. They reveal compelling human moments focusing primarily on backstage vantage points with the performers and company. There is a touch of humor laced throughout the work and after seeing the exhibit one shares the sense of Gerard’s ‘Joi de Vivre’.
After walking through the show, Gerard was generous in discussing the work with us. He engaged us in questions about our ways of seeing as 20-year old American students and was open to all of our questions on form, technique and content. Having the opportunity to speak directly with an artist about their work is always valuable, particularly when they have a deep reservoir of intellect and curiosity like Gerard.
Tonight we went to a contemporary dance performance at the one of the premier performing spaces in Paris. "NieuwZwart" by Wim Vandekeybus challenged our ways of seeing. The choreography created a fantastical underworld; and themes of darkness, and brutality were omnipresent throughout the piece. We left haunted by images of dancers suspended mid air, and launched into movement, while the raucous musical score shook us.
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