A French art fair

Snapping at the heels of the Frieze Art Fair is Foire Internationale d’Art Contemporain.

Since its founding in Paris in 1974, FIAC has been an important date in the diary for enthusiasts of contemporary art, but was thought by many to lack the glamour and diversity that Frieze came to offer. In the last few years, however, it has represented increasingly stiff competition, not simply by jostling for space in a busy October calendar, but in terms of its growing stature and self-confidence.

FIAC’s ascent seemed to coincide with its return to the heart of Paris in 2005 after a period of isolation at the city’s fringes. Since then the fair has expanded rapidly from its main venue, the Grand Palais, to include the Cour Carrée du Louvre, the Jardin des Tuileries (this year the site of more than 20 different outdoor projects) and numerous other venues, as well as inspiring an explosion of satellite exhibitions and events throughout the capital.

This year’s FIAC, which is now in its 37th edition, will feature 194 galleries from 24 countries, with Japan, Mexico, Korea and Ireland being represented for the first time. Among the highlighted solo shows are: Yayoi Kusama at Victoria Miro, Adel Abdessemed at David Zwirner and Jean-Pierre Pincemin at Applicat-Prazan. And notable exhibits include an untitled Alexander Calder (1962) at Sophie Scheidecker, David Hockney’s “Puddle near Kilham” (2005) at Annely Juda Fine Art and Stéphane Thidet’s “Crue” (2010) at Aline Vidal.

As well as a packed programme of associated lectures and performances, FIAC is presenting daily screenings of between five and 10 artists’ films, each lasting no longer than 30 minutes, at the Cinéphémère, a specially installed 14-seat cinema. In addition, a new stage work devised by William Kentridge and François Sarhan will premiere at the Louvre Auditorium.

Elsewhere in the city, there are major exhibitions at the Galleries Nationales du Grand Palais – Claude Monet 1840-1926 and France 1500 – as well as a number of prominent solo shows: Henry Moore at the Musée Rodin, André Kertész at Jeu de Paume and Jean-Michel Basquiat at Musée d’Art Moderne.

FIAC runs from October 21-24. www.fiac.com