Women House is a beautiful exhibition from La Monnaie de Paris, produced in conjunction with the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
The exhibition takes its name from the "Womanhouse" project by Myriam Shapiro and Judy Chicago (California School of the Arts, 1972). These two directors of the Feminist Art Program had no space in which to teach their courses, and decided totake over a house before it was demolished and turn it into a "house" of women, where each artist would take possession of a room.
It was not until many years later that feminist art projects arrived in France, where a violent theory of the "femme-maison" had been revived. For Louise Bourgeois 5, then Niki de Saint-Phalle, the woman would be absorbed by her home, becoming the protector and support of her entire family to the detriment of her own comfort and security.
And so, 7 years later, La Monnaie de Paris invites us to take up this delicate subject: the story of the woman in her home. For this exhibition, 40 women artists are featured to tackle 8 themes, in a girl power atmosphere.
As soon as you enter, you're confronted with questions about the place of women in 1950s society, sometimes as objects, sometimes as housewives, depending on men's schedules.
The exhibition speaks to us of the malaise and unease of women in their homes, these desperate housewives locked in a house and who find refuge in a bedroom... So much so that the walls are "impregnated with their creative force" and the whole house becomes a woman.
In the final rooms, the women dream of their own interior... A mobile home with hot tub, a doll's house,
And outside, a Nana maison by Niki de Saint-Phalle invites us to enter the protective cocoon of the mother...
After this Paris presentation, Women House will be exhibited at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington D.C. from March to May 2018.
Practical info:
Women House, the exhibition at La Monnaie de Paris
From October 20, 2017 to January 28, 2018
Location: Monnaie de Paris, 11 quai de Conti, 75006 Paris
Opening hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday
Admission: €12, €8 for young people and night-time admission, free for under-18s, unemployed and disabled people
Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.
Dates and Opening Time
From October 20, 2017 to January 28, 2018
Location
Paris Mint
11, quai Conti
75006 Paris 6
Prices
-18 ans, chômeurs et handicapés: Free
tarif jeune: €8
tarif plein: €12
Recommended age
From 10 years old
Average duration
1 h
Official website
www.monnaiedeparis.fr
More information
Opening hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday