The concept of the alto-type, is, of course, his ! Photographer and artist, Alfons Alt combines the techniques of painting, engraving and photography. A process he has used for this series of “Portraits of Africa”. Alongside the works on display, visitors will discover a selection of tribal objects.
Until February 28th at Espace Miramar, Cannes (04 93 43 86 26).

Since the creation of his character, M, in 1997, Matthieu Chedid has won one success after another. His fourth studio album entitled “Mystère Mister” again confirms, as if it were necessary, his incredible talent. “Le Roi des Ombres” again adopts his unusual hairstyle, promising new antics on a frenzied stage.
March 9th at Zénith Oméga de Toulon and March 26th at Salle Nikaïa, Nice.

Three contemporary painters, Gérard Guyomard, Gérard Le Cloarec and Vladimir Velickovic, have attempted to unravel the mysteries of movement. The first by means of image retention, the second using pixels and the third by drawing outstretched bodies. Their works are presented in the exhibition “La Mémoire du Geste”, intended as a homage to Etienne-Jules Marey, photographer and pioneer in the world of cinematography. The paintings by this trio of artists are confronted by Marey’s chrono-photographs and documentaries from the “Encyclopédie Audiovisuelle de l’Art Contemporain” compiled by Claude Guibert. Diverse approaches for a fascinating reflection on the relationship between painting and new technologies...
From March, 2nd, to May 30th at Musée Rétif (04 93 58 44 20).

Of Cuban origin with a training in classical music, surfing between Paris and Havana, Raul Paz takes inspiration from everything he loves to give life to his own creations. He brilliantly mixes Latin rhythms with pop music, rock or even hip-hop. This is an intimate concert, certainly rich in emotions, to which the artiste invites his fans at the beginning of this new year.
March, 9th at Théâtre de Nice (04 93 13 90 90).

Perpetuating traditions while evolving at the same time is possible ! The 2010 Carnival proves the point ! For this new edition, it welcomes the King of the Blue Planet. The theme of ecology lies at the heart of the event, but also in its practical side (recyclable tarpaulins, low-power screen, recovery containers for carnival streamers, carbon tax on floats and motorized carts...).
From February 12th to 28th, Nice.
www.nicecarnaval.com

Claire Nadeau fills the stage in the role of the flamboyant Diana Vreeland who was, in her capacity as editor-in-chief of Vogue, a dictator of fashion in the 1970’s. The story begins when, after a 9-year reign, she was summarily dismissed by her employers. She left New York and travelled around Europe for several months. Back home, she plunged into her memories and told her tale... Adapted by Jean-Marie Besset, the play by Mark Hampton and Marie-Louise Wilson enables the audience to enjoy the eccentricity, contradictions and wit of this famous journalist. A role ideally tailored to the equally original Claire Nadeau.
From March 24th to 26th at Théâtre de Nice (04 93 13 90 90).

Works by Michel Verjux are neither paintings nor sculptures, but lighting. For him, what is in fact important is the way we show things and why we present them. He thus creates disks, squares, rectangles and cones using a source of light and projects them onto architectural elements. The Léger Museum lends itself to the concept with a liberal dose of poetry.
From February 5th to May 17th at Musée National Fernand Léger, Biot (04 92 91 50 30).

John Gray’s book, “Men come from Mars, women from Venus”, has become the universal refrence for all those wanting to understand the opposite sex. In his turn, Paul Dewandre has turned his attention to these delicate relationships between men and women by writing and performing in this show full of humour.
March, 23th, 24th and 25th at Palais de la Méditerranée, Nice.

First a statement explaining why it is urgent to take action, then a presentation of the players and practices in eco-responsible architecture, and finally avenues of research and future prospects. Developed along these three main lines, “Habiter Ecologique” is an exhibition that examines solutions aiming to make Nice a sustainable city. It demonstrates the need to change our life-styles in order to address international problems relating to the environment. An intelligent way of making people aware that offers a wide array of information, experts’ testimonials, films projected in continu and architectural projects.
Until February 27th at Forum d’Urbanisme et d’Architecture (04 97 13 51 51).

Muriel Mayette is staging “La Dispute” by Marivaux, with the troupe of the Comédie Française. The story is about a sombre project : children of both sexes, reared in a laboratory in the woods and treated as objects of study. A tragic experiment to satisfy a whim of the King, who wanted to know whether men or women are the most fickle...
February 27th at Palais des Festivals, Cannes (04 92 99 84 81).

Midway between theatre and dance, Monique Loudières and Elodie Tampon-Lajariette accompanied by Henry Manini, interpret “Funambules” by Thierry Vincent. This very beautiful work tells the story of three characters exiled to an island, who relearn how to live by dancing and playing. The choreography is signed Eric Oberdorff.
March 5th and 6th at Théâtre de Grasse (04 93 40 53 00).

“Construire ailleurs”, or “Building Elsewhere” introduces the public to the achievements of the Tyin association, created by two young Norwegian architects, together with those of Anna Heringer. “Elsewhere” refers to Africa and Asia. With the help of the local population, and with care for the environment, Tyin builds houses for young orphans, village libraries and public baths. Anna Heringer has designed a “handmade” school and houses built of earth using ancient construction techniques. In order for us to share these adventures, of architectural but also human interest, the exhibition invites us to consult drawings and plans, photographs taken while construction was underway, those of completed buildings and others that immortalize the moment when the various buildings were handed over. Also to be discovered, one of the orphans’ houses specially rebuilt for the occasion.
From February 14th to March 28th at La Villa Noailles (04 98 08 01 98).

The HSBC prize for photography was awarded to two artists (from among 12 nominees) of whom we are likely to hear much more : Grégoire Alexandre and Matthieu Gafsou. 37 year-old Grégoire, who lives in Paris, works regularly in the world of fashion : he produced, for example, the catalogue for the exhibition “Christian Lacroix, Histoires de Mode” held at the Museum of Decorative Arts in 2007. His simple photographs, in which characters and objects are carefully arranged, contain a certain poetry. As for Swiss resident Matthieu Gafsou, aged 28, he is looking for “coherence in incoherence” in his photographs of Tunisia. After touring several French cities, the exhibition of their respective works is making Marseille its last port-of-call.
Until February 28th, at Musée d’Art Contemporain (04 91 25 01 07).

The beauty of this ballet is as compelling its dramatic tale. “Fuenteovejuna” evokes love, violence and oppression in the 15th century in a village in the province of Cordoba. This is the first time since the death of its creator, Lope Vega, that this work is being performed on stage. The Antonio Gades Ballet Company interprets it with grace and emotion.
February 6th, at Palais des Festivals, Cannes (04 92 99 84 81).

The collective imagination has always been full of prejudices and the field of pre-history is no exception. Therefore, four museums in Nice have simultaneously chosen to devote an exhibition to the unusual theme of preconceived ideas.
Until February 28th at Musée Archéologique (04 93 81 59 57), at Musée de Paléontologie Humaine de Terra Amata (04 93 55 59 93), at Musée Masséna (04 93 88 11 34) and at Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle (04 97 13 46 80), Nice.

Born in Roanne in 1876, Jean Puy is best-known for his many landscapes and seascapes of Brittany. An artist fascinated by the Atlantic Ocean and its changing colours, he also devoted part of his work to superb panoramic views of the Mediterranean. On his first visit to Saint-Tropez in 1906, he discovered Agay, Gassin, Cavalaire and later on Cassis, Sanary and Toulon. Today, the town of Saint-Tropez is honouring the artist by reuniting his “Mediterranean” scenes : “Quai à Saint-Tropez”, “Saint-Tropez, le soir”, “Marché à Sanary”, “Le Brusc”, “Le Port de La Ciotat” and “Port de Toulon vu de la Fenêtre” are among those that visitors can enjoy in this exhibition.
Until March 15th at Musée de l’Annonciade (04 94 17 84 10).

The decade in question ? 1999-2009. Throughout this period,
the Théâtre de la Photographie et de l’Image has put together a collection which is now being highlighted. A chance to admire the most beautiful photos taken by Thomas Zika, Jacques Godard, Brigitte Bauer, Gabriele Basilico, André Villers and, of course, Charles Nègre.
Until February 14th at the Théâtre de la Photographie et de l’Image Charles Nègre, Nice (04 97 13 42 20).

Céleste Boursier-Mougenot, who creates tinkling china, guitar playing birds and piano chairs, has just produced an installation composed of audio and visual experiments specially for the exhibition “Videodrones” : a pond in which hundreds of fish swim around, triggering a sound when they pass in front of a camera which captures and projects their image onto screens.
Until February 8th at the Musée national Marc Chagall, Nice (04 93 53 87 20).

Former Director of the Centre d’Art Contemporain in Carros, photographer, biographer, art historian and archivist, Frédéric Altmann has many strings to his bow. Over the years, he has met scores of artists and his lens has always been ready to immortalize them. The exhibition proposed here features one artist by country and also shows his day-to-day environment.
Until February 28th at the Musée de la Photographie André Villers, Mougins (04
93 75 85 67).

While indeed a tribute to Charles Aznavour, the musical “Je m’voyais déjà” is not, however, a biography. Laurent Ruquier, author of the libretto, has instead focussed on the “passions and problems” of young performers who decide to produce their own shows. Throughout the tale, “Les plaisirs démodés”, “For-me-formidable” and many other hits are performed with gusto by Pablo Villafranca (already noticed in “The Ten Commandments”), Jonatan Cerrada (winner of the first “Nouvelle Star” award), Julie Lémas and Véronique Rivière, to name but a few. The musical’s artistic direction is capably handled by the daughter of the great Charles in person : Katia Aznavour !
January, 30th, Acropolis.

Guitarist for a time with Ike and Tina Turner, Al McKay is more often associated with Earth Wind and Fire. Bringing together some of the greatest musicians of the day, he founded the Al McKay Allstars and breathed new life into songs that built the band’s international reputation. Calling all fans of “September”, “Boogie Wonderland”, “Let's Groove Tonight” etc…
January 29th at Grimaldi Forum, Monaco (00 377 99 99 30 00).

Neglected and deceived by her husband Theseus (King of Athens), Phaedra falls head-over-heels in love with her step-son, Hippolytus. A passion that leads to her death... If the plot of this play by Racine has no more secrets for most of the public, it gains in interest thanks to Renaud Marie Leblanc’s stage production and the performances of Roxane Borgna and Francine Bergé.
January, 28th and 29th at the Théâtre de Grasse (04 93 40 53 04).

The world of the imagination mingles with reality in the work of Alfons Alt. By combining different techniques such as painting, engaving and photography, the artist explores the place of man and his evolution in society. From “résinopigmentype”, or carbon pigment printing, invented in the 19th century by Louis-Alphonse Poitevin, to “Altotype”, there was just one step...
Until March 28th at the Centre d’Art La Malmaison, Cannes (04 97 06 44 90).

During a trip to Africa in 2002, Hans Silvester met semi-nomadic and war-faring tribes : the Surma and Mursi. These people from the Omo Valley (in south-western Ethiopia) use body painting techniques that fascinated the photographer. Without any mystical significance, this practice is part of their daily life. Mothers paint the bodies of their babies, children and adults decorate each other’s skin using ash and natural pigments. The results are spectacular, and the photos taken by Hans Silvester are a fine tribute to them. The exhibition presents a selection from the many photos the artist took over a period of six years during which he visited the people of the Omo on several occasions.
Until January 29th at the Galerie Marlborough Monaco (00 377 97 70 25 50).

Three years ago, the public discovered this young composer/song-writer thanks to a hit entitled “La Lettre”. It was followed by “Les voisines”, “Monsieur Marcel”, ”Le repenti” and “La fille de la bande”, with Renan Luce confirming his talent note by note, word after word. His second album has just been released and he is now on stage to present his new songs and films.
March 20th, salle du canton, Monaco (00 377 93 10 12 10).

His work is often compared to that of Matisse or Vialat. Born in Germany, Jan Voss settled in France 50 years ago. The influences he soon underwent are fully acknowledged by the artist. The author of many works on paper in ink and watercolours, he has also produced many paintings in oil or acrylic on canvas. But throughout his career, he has also broadened his scope by using various materials (such as wood, fabrics, cardboard) and alternative techniques (sculpture, collage, plays on form and lines). Escaping from traditional painting, Jan Voss proposes art in three dimensions, colourful, falsely intuitive, a treat for weary eyes.
From January 30th to March 21th at Hôtel des Arts (04 94 91 69 18).

Daniel Benoin is responsible for staging this novel by Christine Orban. “The Collector” - the story of an honest man overcome by his passion (for coins) -, here takes on its full theatrical dimension with actors Paul Chariéras, Jacques Bellay and François Marthouret. A tragedy about the excesses of passion and the human side of error.
From January 20th to 31th, Théâtre National de Nice (04 93 13 90 90).

“Loving couples” were a favourite theme for Jean Cocteau. Engaged and married couples in fact haunt many of his works. In over a hundred drawings, prints, manuscripts, ceramics and photographs from the Jean Cocteau Museum and Séverin Wunderman collections, the public is invited to share moments of eternal tenderness.
Until June of 2010 at the Musée Jean Cocteau, Menton (04 93 57 72 30).

Contemporary art has a new outlet for expression. The Rétif Museum was born of the initiative taken by Mr. and Mrs. André Rétif, creators of the famous stores of the same name. Built by the Cabinet Alain Berp, this elegant building is a worthy backcloth for the artworks and welcomes visitors in excellent conditions. Nall, Sasha Sosno, Jean-Claude Novaro, Robert Barriot, Marcestel and Jean Carzou inaugurate this new address.
Musée Rétif, Vence (04 93 58 44 20).

Claude Morin and his daughters, Géraldine and Olivia, share a creative soul which is expressed in the fields of sculpture and painting. They each, of course, have their own personal touch. Géraldine and Olivia work with bronze, Claude too, though he complements
it with welded iron (his “César” is simply superb). Olivia specializes in sanguines while Géraldine paints in more “underground” style (Gainsbourg, New York...) and Claude opts for voluptuous female nudes (using various techniques : sanguine, oil on canvas, oil on linen) and representations of birds (ostriches, ibises, blue throats, seagulls...). Three talents to be discovered in the family studio-cum-gallery where they permanently display their works.
Atelier galerie Morin, Saint-Paul (04 93 32 77 37).

A rising figure in contemporary art, Kokian is also the worthy heir of Basquiat. Impulsive and rebellious, he does not hesitate to use his art to denounce the hypocrisies of our society. His paintings thus convey real messages. Scattered between Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Corsica, Belgium and Luxembourg, two of them are visible at the Galerie du Vieux Saint-Paul, Saint-Paul de Vence (04 93 32 74 50).

Menton The first stone was laid last December. Since then, the public eagerly awaits the opening (in 2011) of the Jean Cocteau Museum. This new cultural building will house the collection of Séverin Wunderman, the famous watch-maker, a great art-lover who died in 2008. He had collected over 2,000 works by Jean Cocteau : drawings, photographs, manuscripts, prints, posters, sculptures, ceramics... His impressive donation to the town (1,763 items) and the desire to share his passion have allowed this ambitious project to be carried out. Designed by the Rudy Ricciotti architectural firm, the museum will fit perfectly into the landscape. It will contain several exhibition rooms and a bookshop, an educational workshop, garden, cafeteria and storage rooms. It will be built at the foot of the old town close to the Bastion, in a spot known as “Les Pêcheurs”.

Nice The concept is original. The Galerie Ars Natura, located in the Old Town of Nice since December, exhibits photographs exclusively inspired by nature. Each one is numbered, signed and proposed in limited editions (maximum 500 copies). The gallery is currently highlighting photos by Mark Gaylard, Naoya Fujishiro, Pierre Lesage and Jean Cazals. It also has a catalogue of about 200 images for which one can choose the print format and finish. A unique chance to treat oneself to a work of art, whose collector value is protected, at a reasonable price (from 23 to 1,550 €). Furthermore, Ars Natura has selected a number of decorative items, also with nature in mind : natural picture frames from Vertical Green, objects made of boiled wool from Hut up Berlin and others with animal or floral motifs from Atelier LZC.
Galerie Ars Natura, 3 rue Centrale (04 93 79 46 24). www.arsnatura.fr

The town of Cagnes-sur-Mer is reasserting its role in the field of jewellery and has added two new rooms to its exhibition space, one reserved for documentation. Its permanent collection consists of original works acquired over the years from internationally renowned artists, with the accent on contemporary design.
Espace Solidor et Tour Margot, Cagnes-sur-Mer (04 93 72 14 42).

It has taken two-and-a-half years to renovate the Picasso Museum in Antibes which is finally re-opening its doors to the public. While the castle’s façades and roofs have been restored, the undertaking mostly involved plans for interior restructuring. The aim of providing improved conditions for the reception of visitors (access for the handicapped, cloakrooms, washrooms, book shop…) and conservation of artworks (creation of showcases, temperature control…) has been achieved. On entering the ground-floor, one discovers the admirable Hartung-Bergman donation. The first floor is devoted to temporary exhibitions and presentation of the Nicolas de Staël collection. Quite logically, the top floor is reserved for the Picasso collection, in and around the studio area where the artist worked in 1946 at the invitation of curator Romuald Dor de la Souchère.
Musée Picasso, Château d’Antibes (04 92 90 54 26).

Saint-Paul-de-Vence Michel Degav’s paintings convey sincere emotion, rare spontaneity and an evident desire to share all the beauty he sees around him. Landscapes of Provence and Italy, fishing harbours, luxuriant gardens, hang alongside portraits of young girls and magnificent horses. Brilliant colours, shimmering light and vibrating heat, executed, or almost sculpted, with a palette-knife to give texture, depth and relief. Michel Degav and his wife Anna, his muse but also an active partner, welcome to the gallery they opened a few years ago, people who appreciate beauty and authenticity and who regularly return to rediscover their captivating world.
82 rue Grande (04 93 32 09 86).
www.degav.com