Living in Clips

This weekend is the last chance to catch the interactive Euphoria balloon exhibition at the Grand Palais. The Grand Palais has always been my favourite building in Paris, it was the first exhibition space I ever visited when I first came to Paris. That sweeping green glass roof, the grandeur of its scale, I had seen so many social media images circulating so I was curious to see how the space would be transformed this time.

The installation itself was incredibly striking: vast and vibrant, set against the elegant iron and glass architecture. But in all honesty the experience was also very overwhelming for me. The sheer number of visitors packed into the space, the constant hum of voices, music, movement and sometimes even balloons bursting — it all made the atmosphere feel loud and intense, at times almost too much to take in. We also didn’t remember to take our children’s noise cancelling headphones and in hindsight they were very much needed for our young family.

Still, I’m glad we experienced it as a family, it was really incredible. It’s always fascinating to see how art interacts with a building I love so much, and this exhibition certainly left its mark. If you’re in Paris this weekend, it’s worth stepping inside — if only to experience the Grand Palais in such a dramatic, fleeting moment.