La Culture: The Art of War, How Artists Interpret Armed Conflict

Confronted with the most destructive times in history, artists interpret armed conflict through photography, painting, sculpture and film, and also in applied forms depicted in the artefacts of warfare.

DEPARDON, MILITARY PHOTOGRAPHER

Celebrated photographer Raymond Depardon was commissioned by Terre Air Mer magazine in 1962-63 to go on a veritable military ‘tour de France’. This event-exhibition at the Musée du Service de santé des armées in Paris offers a unique perspective on his work.

Depardon worked on assignment for the ‘military equivalent of Paris-Match‘, and took more than 2,000 photographs, now conserved and fully digitised. This youthful corpus, never before presented, sheds light into another facet of his career and the genesis of his rich style. Even in armed conflict he is already expressing himself with great freedom, and a keen eye for composition. Until January 30

Musée du Service de santé des armées- École du Val-de-Grâce
1 Place Alphonse Laveran, 75005 Paris
Tel: +33 (0)1 40 51 51 92
www.depardon1962.fr

ART UNDER FIRE

A new generation of artists has emerged in Afghanistan after 20 years of war and a Taliban regime that was extremely hostile to art. The exhibition Kharmohra, Art Under Fire in Afghanistan at the MuCEM in Marseille shows the work of artists who refused to remain silent, even when their lives were at risk. Until March 1

MUCEM
1 Espl. J4, 13002 Marseille
Tel: +33 (0)4 84 35 13 13
www.mucem.org

THE CANONS OF ELEGANCE

From the 16th century to the present day, through more than 200 pieces, the Army Museum in Paris showcases objects of luxury and elegance created for the soldiers of yesterday and today.

While this appetite for ornamentation and luxury may seem ostentatious, the splendour is part of a soldier’s identity, designates their rank, and the degree of authority conferred on them, and also serve as a mark the recognition of their merit. Until January 20

Musée de l’Armée- Invalides
129 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 42 38 77
www.musee-armee.fr

From France Today magazine