Absurdity, Surrealism & Pop: Wander For A Day Through Pompidou, Paris

Centre Pompidou

In 1969, with Georges Pompidou’s direction, the Centre was built. Its purpose being, an epicenter of all modern visual arts. As an enthusiast, he wanted to give them a home: a home to accompany the operas, theaters, and cinemas across the city. Thus, the center was built and millions of travelers, and countrymen have visited since, making it one of the irreplaceable stops in Paris.

The Galleries

Illuminated signs dangling above the ticket counter display the current exhibits. Admission is 14 EUR, or around 16 USD, but one ticket admits you into every single gallery, so plan your day accordingly. (Opening hours are from 11am - 9pm everyday.)

There are options; the ESPACE 315 houses the winner of the prix Duchamp, an award for an outstanding contemporary French artist, and at the top floor, the legendary Modern Art Gallery resides.

The paradigm shift of modern art

Paul Cezanne slips into Matisse, and Matisse to Picasso, and as you slide all the way down the hallway of history, you’ll reach Warhol, his contemporaries, and the era of pop art. The collection that this museum holds, feels truly complete, and is contextualized with summations delineating one art movement from the next, and the next within the same decade.

If you love art, history and culture, this is a must see. The collection is one of the greatest in the world.

Art for art's sake

An electric sign buzzes in the corner of the room. The cement floor has been replaced with grass, and the further you walk away from the sign, the more the calls of exotic birds drown the feedback, but when you step closer—the buzz engulfs everything. It is an eery space. A space using corrupted sound and contrasts to convey a meaning. And not only that but it is one of thirty different atmospheres, projecting the artist’s influences and angst, mapped out as the current gallery in Pompidou.

Every half a year or so, a new artist’s work comes to fruition, always with a different interpretation of what art is. These galleries are fascinating and you can often lose track of time.

Rise above the historic housing

As you make your way up the escalators, you may notice that the horizon becomes more clear. And in fact, at the top you have a stellar view of Paris! From the balcony you can see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, La Defense, and many other iconic landmarks of Paris. If you only want to see the view, the price is 3 EUR or 4 USD.

A coffee, a croissant, and a conversation

After one or two exhibits, you may feel stuffed to capacity with new information, but don’t fret, they have a bistro and cafe! Relax and chat about the exhibits, or browse mindless YouTube videos on the free Wi-Fi to recharge your own battery. Coffee and sandwiches are museum prices, but are worth it to take a break and divert your focus.

Also another option is the elegant Georges Restaurant on the top floor, dine here for an unforgettable view of the city.