Paris is the tribal art market hub and Parcours des Mondes its main fair. In 2013 it was the 12th edition: 60 galleries in Saint-Germain des Près’ were hosting the most peculiar and worldwide artifacts, gathering collectors, dealers and passionate of this art altogether.
The aim overcomes the simple Art Fair but suggests topics and reflections both on visitors and collectors. The recall to the origins, to the roots of civilization, grounds the entire exhibition. Each artifact tells a story, a remote and undiscovered one, which turns in a charming mystery.
The exposition was remarkably organised in the Fine Art district of Paris. Simply walking along these well-known tiny roads you could see pieces otherwise rare to admire. The most of those were originally from Africa, reaffirming the normal Western attitude of primary art lovers. These latter, collectors or simple visitors, see in the pieces a sort of cultural identity ownership, which overcomes and reflects their own identity in the “alter” images.
It is different the Western rhetoric surrounding the Oceanic Art, which recalls idyllic, lost and spiritual places where James Cook first explored, then Malinowski and Boas opened to new demo-ethno-anthropologic studies. Each local native creates his artifacts or cultural activities (dance, sing, drums) through his own spirituality which fills totally his art. Henceforth it’s more difficult to understand the inner artistic\cultural spirits by the Western, likewise the art\artifacts to be detached by its own context and author.
The Parcours des Mondes is a promenade where everybody can and should take part to understand and approach the tribal art, the unique and enormous cultural patrimony which represents. If you want to get an idea of how much the world is fascinating without moving too far, just walk through Saint-Germain des Près in those days.