Founded in 2000, Parcours Saint-Germain is an annual art event bringing contemporary art installations to a neighborhood of cultural heritage and modern charm, aiming to inspire thought and strengthen the relationship between the public and art. Under the theme "The Art of Shape", this year's event ran for 10 days and featured more than 30 artists from all over the world.
Red Panda, a sculpture created by renowned French contemporary artist Richard Orlinski, was also on display at Place Saint-Sulpice. Made of red resin, the sculpture stands three meters tall, stretches two-and-a-half meters wide, and weighs 200 kilograms, expressing the broad power and serene calmness of the panda. Specially made for Operation Panda last Christmas, and commissioned by Chengdu IFS, the popular installation symbolizes the friendship and values of this international partnership.
The Parcours Saint-Germain completely exposes the artwork to the public areas of the city. Anne-Dierre d'Albis, the founder of Parcours Saint-Germain says: "Our festival is aimed at the public rather than a certain class." The exhibits are distributed along the Parcours and in various corners of the street, including brand stores, plazas and restaurants. Sometimes, they even appear in mid-air. This spirit of inadvertent beauty is also a lifestyle encouraged by the Left Bank of Paris.
The French have been used to art installations on the streets everywhere, "but the small square in front of the Saint-Germain-des-Pres Cathedral was approved for the first time in 18 years to showcase art installations. It is an opportunity for us," says Christina Hau, general manager of operations, Wharf China Estates Limited. "Our purpose is simple," she says, "it is to promote the internationalization of Chengdu."
