The cultural scene is buzzing with exceptional exhibitions, performances, and festivals that promise to captivate audiences across Europe. From a groundbreaking dance tribute to the legendary Martha Graham to a major retrospective of Japan's iconic artist Yayoi Kusama, these five cultural highlights offer diverse artistic experiences that shouldn't be missed.
The Châtelet Theater is celebrating the centenary of Martha Graham's dance company with a spectacular show titled "Graham 100." The production honors the revolutionary choreographer Martha Graham (1894-1991), who was named "Dancer of the Century" by Time Magazine in 1998. Graham transformed modern dance and mentored legendary figures including Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, and Twyla Tharp, while also working with renowned artists like Rudolf Nureyev, Liza Minnelli, and Madonna.
The celebration features two alternating programs that showcase the dialogue between traditional repertoire and contemporary creation. Audiences can witness Graham's research into Greek mythology through works like "Cave of the Heart," which finds its modern echo in Hofesh Schechter's "Cave" – a rave performance set to techno music. The highlight of the production is the return of étoile dancer Aurélie Dupont, who makes her grand comeback to the stage. Dressed in a stunning red gown, she performs a solo inspired by Martha Graham's sculptural gestural language. "Graham 100" runs through November 14 at the Châtelet and continues on tour.
The Beyeler Foundation near Basel, Switzerland, provides a breathtaking setting for a major monographic exhibition dedicated to Yayoi Kusama, born in 1929 and currently living and working in Tokyo. The museum's park features golden ginkgo biloba and crimson Japanese maple trees that reflect in the water lily pond where Kusama's "Narcissus Garden" installation with its silver spheres unfolds. At the exhibition's conclusion, giant "Pumpkin" sculptures echo the autumn colors through the building's glass windows, designed by Renzo Piano.
The comprehensive exhibition spans 300 works by the polka-dot artist, representing 70 years of artistic production. The retrospective traces her journey from political engagement to the transcendence of her motifs, including her hypnotic environments. Curated by Mouna Mekouar, this retrospective serves as a hymn to the notion of infinity and invites meditation. The exhibition runs through January 25, 2026, at the Beyeler Foundation.
The Paris Opera's Palais Garnier will host a multimedia gala on Friday, November 14, featuring countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo performing works by Handel and Philip Glass. This theatrical multimedia experience combines opera, dance, visual arts, cinema, and fashion. On stage, painter Glenn Brown will create artwork live while five dancers perform choreographies by Pam Tanowitz, surrounded by soundscapes created by Sabisha Friedberg.
Ten videos by international artists, including Tilda Swinton and Sandro Kopp, Pierpaolo Ferrari and Maurizio Cattelan, and James Ivory and Pix Talarico, form the backdrop for this innovative production. Completing this artistic celebration are costumes designed by Raf Simons. The gala, conducted by Karen Kamensek, represents a true celebration of music, image, and movement.
The eighth edition of the Illustrators' Biennale will take place from November 13-23 in Moulins, France. The program includes eight free exhibitions and meetings with six invited illustrators: Pierre Alexis, Gaby Bazin, Sarah Cheveau, Paul Cox, Goele Dewanckel, and Peter Van den Ende. The festival also features performances by students from École Estienne and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels, along with approximately twenty workshops.
To launch the biennale, a grand graphic parade themed around "night" is scheduled for Saturday, November 15. This procession through Moulins' magnificent historic center will feature lanterns, flags, and banners, transforming the city into a festive celebration of illustration and graphic arts.
At La Villette, Carolina Bianchi tackles masculine solidarity with her production "The Brotherhood," a rare show recommended for audiences 18 and older. Following her impactful 2023 Festival d'Automne presentation "A noiva e o Boa Noite Cinderela" (The Bride and Good Night Cinderella), the first part of her "Cadela Forca" trilogy where she portrayed a victim of chemical submission, Bianchi now shifts perspective to examine the aggressors' viewpoint.
Accompanied by her Cara de Cavalo collective, she explores the concept of "boys clubs" in the art world, questioning how masculine solidarity protects aggressors. This production, which blends manifesto, performance, and conference, offers a dizzying immersion into the male gaze and rape culture. The show promises to be both challenging and enlightening, addressing crucial contemporary issues through powerful artistic expression.
