Nuit Blanche

Last night was Nuit Blanche in Paris.  This year the theme was a love story, illustrated by installations, video and light projections following a course along the Seine, but with some surprises to be found in areas away from the river.  The love story was based on Le Songe de Poliphile, a romance believed to be written by Francesco Colonna, first published in Venice in 1499.  The story follows Poliphile as he pursues his love, Polia, through a dreamlike landscape, and just as he is about to take her into his arms, she vanishes and Poliphile awakes.

We metro'd to Hotel de Ville in the 4th arrondissement and started our trek from there.  The night was chilly, but perfect walking weather, and walk we did...almost five hours!

As in previous years, there were long queues for some of the works situated within buildings or courtyards and we missed out, but there was still much to experience.  My favourite was Oliver Beer's installation 'Live Stream' around the pont des Arts.  Each foot of the bridge was illuminated in green at water level and the sounds of the river were amplified, changing with the movement of the water or as boats passed under the bridge.  I also loved a video installation in the tiny courtyard of l'ecole des garçons on rue Saint-Louis en l'Ile - the coloured projections in the quiet darkness are magical.