Carambolages at Grand Palais: A Shock to the Museum System

The exhibition 'Carambolages' at the Grand Palais in Paris, curated by Jean-Hubert Martin, challenges traditional museum practices by grouping artworks based on formal or mental affinities rather than chronological or spatial categories. The title, borrowed from billiards, suggests a chain collision, reflecting the show's aim to shock and provoke visitors. Martin critiques the museum's reliance on period rooms and linear art history, arguing that the spirit of the past is lost and unattainable. Instead, the exhibition adopts a transcultural approach inspired by Warburg and Gombrich, presenting works without written labels—only tablets with looping reproductions. The oval room is transformed into a Land Art piece reminiscent of Michael Heizer's City or Alberto Burri's Cretto. The goal is to evoke desire and personal interpretation, freeing artworks from their original contexts. However, the curator's perspective remains embedded in the selection and placement of works. The exhibition runs until July 4, 2016, at the Grand Palais.