“Every lingering remnant in adults’ memory of the atmosphere of enchanted forests, every last vestige in them of belief in miracles, every breath of theirs which still inhales a perfume of fairytales reveals itself beneath the wretched, crazed disguise of these feebly invented landscapes”
Louis Aragon, Paris Peasant
Here, not far from Paris, were marshes, which became a vegetable plain of one of the largest agricultural territories in Europe. Between 1952 and 1972, gypsies from Andalusia settled here, as well as Roma from Eastern Europe, Portuguese, Algerians, Moroccans, Tunisians, Yugoslavians, and a few French families, in insalubrious conditions, in what was known as the Campa slum.Now, one seems to feel there this « feeling of nature » dear to the surrealists, and that the peasant of Aragon experienced when he walked through the park of Buttes-Chaumont, north of the concomitant capital.
Like the latter, the Parc de La Courneuve was invented and built from scratch. Spread over five communes, it imposes its opulent landscape on the rough and dry of the Paris suburbs. Vast plains, belvederes, mounts and pyramids: everything is aimed at re-appropriating a perspective free from the housing blocks that streak the viewer’s eyes just a few steps away, and which here can only be discerned from above, rendered minuscule by the strength of the mineral vantage points.
If there is NATURE, it is in a double language game: first, the one fenced, arranged, structured, by the landscapers and then reinterpreted by the occupants. Here, dense vegetation and stone sculptures, dark woods and clear lines, modern practices and the primitive power of trees are confronted and mixed.
Through the constitutive duality of the park, the inner strength of the beings who cross it is revealed, their nature in a second sense. An enclosed space, but a space of freedom, it creates its autonomy and its aesthetic independence at the same time by its porosity – the entrance is free – and its opacity.
In the silence of the place, contemporaneity sinks into this hybrid space as into an original reverse, creating an asynchronous picture where reality becomes fable. And then, as in the words of Aragon, “reflect faithfully the vast sentimental regions where the city dwellers wild dreams stir”.
[Alexandre Silberman]
| Publication date: | 2024 |
| Weight: | 800 g. |
| Dimensions: | 24 × 30 cm |
| Couverture: | Hardcover |
Price
The reference prices of our books are indicated in Euros (€), incl. taxes.
Availability
LE BAL Books cannot guarantee the availability of all the publications in our online catalog.
If the book is out of print on our website and if restocking is no longer possible, your purchase will be refunded.
Follow up
Once your order has been placed, you can follow its preparation in My Account > Orders.
You will be notified by email of any change in the status of your order.
Payment method
We use Payplug payment services to offer you fast and secure payment by credit card.
You can pay without opening an account by entering directly your bank details.
Shipping
We ship from Wednesday to Saturday (except public holidays and annual closures).
An estimate of the delivery time is indicated when ordering. A shipment confirmation as well as a parcel tracking number will be sent to you by email when the parcel is picked up by the carrier.
The average times indicated do not constitute a strict deadline. LE BAL Books cannot be held responsible in the event of a late delivery.
If all of the books ordered are not in stock at the bookstore and you wish to receive the first part of your order, a delivery in two times is possible.
We deliver all over the world with the following carriers: La Poste, Chronopost, Colissimo, Mondial-Relay.
LE BAL Books is not responsible for any delays, damage or loss by the chosen carrier. No reimbursement.
Pick up
The free pick up of your order at the bookstore is available upon presentation of an identity document. Any order not collected from the shop within one month of payment will be automatically refunded.
Shipping fees
Shipping costs are calculated based on the chosen carrier, the weight and the delivery address of your package. Once your order is in your cart, you can have an estimate of the shipping costs offered by each transport service.
Return
Retraction possible within 7 days from receiving the order. The buyer is responsible for return shipping costs. Returned books must be in perfect condition. The bookstore reserves the right to refuse reimbursement of the books if this shouldn't be the case.
Personal data
Your personal information is used only for the processing, delivery and invoicing of your orders. This information is strictly confidential and is under no circumstances passed on to third parties. In accordance with article 34 of the law of January 6, 1978, you have the right to access, modify, rectify and delete data concerning you. To do this, please contact us.
You declare that you have read and accepted these general terms and conditions of sale. The validation of your order therefore constitutes acceptance of these conditions