Okay, so, I wanted to soak up some art and design inspiration in Paris. Figured, why not hit up some festivals? Seemed like a good way to get a concentrated dose of awesome. So I started digging around online, looking for what’s happening.
First up, I checked out a bunch of websites. You know, the usual travel blogs, art magazines, even some official tourism sites. I made a list of festivals that sounded remotely interesting. I needed something that’s not too mainstream, not too obscure, but juuuust right.
Then, came the hard part – narrowing it down. Paris has a ton of events, so I had to be picky. I looked at dates, locations (didn’t want to spend all day on the Metro), and the actual focus of each festival. I was really hoping to find something a bit different, not just the same old art fair stuff. Something with emerging designers or innovative concepts.
I finally decided on a couple. There was this one focused on emerging designers, it was smaller and more intimate, perfect for discovering new talent. And another one, bigger and more established, with some international names that I knew I couldn’t miss. I made a simple itinerary, blocking out dates and times. Paris, here I come!
I showed up at the first festival, the one with the emerging designers. It was held in this cool warehouse space, all exposed brick and industrial vibes. Right away, I saw some really interesting stuff. I spent hours just wandering around, talking to the artists and designers, learning about their processes and inspirations. I even bought a small print from this one artist who was doing really cool things with digital art. Totally worth it!
The bigger festival was a whole different experience. It was packed! But the scale of it was impressive. Huge installations, big name galleries, and a lot of people snapping photos. I definitely saw some incredible artwork, but it was also a bit overwhelming. I focused on the sections that seemed most relevant to my interests – graphic design and contemporary sculpture. I took a ton of photos for future reference, just to have a visual library of cool ideas.
One thing I learned is that comfortable shoes are KEY! Seriously, I was walking for hours each day. And pack snacks! Festival food is usually overpriced and not that great. I stuffed a bag with some fruit and granola bars. Saved me a bunch of money and kept me going.
Also, don’t be afraid to talk to people! I met some really interesting artists and designers just by striking up conversations. Everyone’s usually pretty open to sharing their experiences and insights. It’s way more rewarding than just passively looking at art.
In the end, it was a blast. I got a ton of inspiration, discovered some new artists, and soaked up the Parisian art scene. I’m already planning my next trip to Paris, I’ll definitely be checking out some more festivals!
