14 November 2023
Some venues become almost synonymous with the artistic communities that return to them time and again — and for the Publishing House of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists in France, the Carrousel du Louvre has become exactly that kind of meaningful, recurring stage. Having previously taken part in 2017, 2021, and 2022, the French publisher once again repeated the extraordinary Art Shopping experience this year, further deepening a relationship with one of Paris's most prestigious contemporary art events.
THE Art Event in Paris
Over the years, Art Shopping has firmly established itself as THE art event in Paris — a description that speaks volumes about the fair's stature within the city's already rich and competitive cultural calendar. The event offers hundreds of artists the opportunity to present their works of art to thousands of visitors and art lovers, creating an environment where the sheer scale of participation is matched only by the enthusiasm and engagement of the crowds who attend.
What sets Art Shopping apart from many other exhibitions is the way it brings together carefully selected French and international artists and galleries, each offered a unique opportunity to present their work — whether paintings, sculptures, digital art, or photography — in a considerably more personal way than a typical gallery setting might allow. This personal, direct connection between artist and visitor lies at the very heart of what makes Art Shopping such a valuable and cherished event for participating artists.
A Meaningful Return to a Cherished Stage
This year's edition, held in Paris from 20 to 22 October 2023, marked the fourth time the French publisher had taken part in this celebrated fair. Returning to Art Shopping after previous appearances in 2017, 2021, and 2022 speaks to the clear value this event continues to offer the mouth and foot painting community — a recurring opportunity to reach new audiences, build on established relationships with prior visitors and collectors, and continue strengthening the reputation of French mouth and foot painting artists within one of the country's most significant contemporary art gatherings.
Direct Connection With an Engaged Audience
Representing the Association at this year's fair were three distinguished members: Serge Maudet, President of the VDMFK, alongside fellow artists Henri-Clairy Hembert and Arnaud Dubarre. Together, these three artists used the platform to interact directly with the audience gathered at the Carrousel du Louvre, embracing precisely the kind of personal, intimate engagement that has made Art Shopping such a valued event for exhibiting artists.
Throughout the fair, Maudet, Hembert, and Dubarre were able to exchange ideas about their creative process with curious visitors, offering genuine insight into the techniques, decisions, and personal experiences that shape their work. They also took the opportunity to explain the inspiration behind their individual pieces, helping visitors move beyond simple visual appreciation toward a deeper understanding of the stories and motivations woven into each painting on display. Perhaps most valuably, all three artists made themselves available to answer visitors' questions directly — creating a genuinely two-way exchange between artist and audience that few other exhibition formats can offer so naturally.
The Value of Personal Exchange
This kind of direct, personal interaction carries particular significance for mouth and foot painting artists. For many visitors encountering this art form for the first time, having the opportunity to speak directly with Serge Maudet, Henri-Clairy Hembert, or Arnaud Dubarre — to ask about their technique, their inspiration, or their personal journey as artists — offers an invaluable and often deeply moving experience, one that transforms simple admiration of a finished painting into a richer, more complete appreciation of the artist and the remarkable skill behind their work.
For Serge Maudet, in particular, this direct engagement with the public carries an added layer of significance given his role as President of the VDMFK — offering him a valuable opportunity not only to share his own artistic journey, but to represent and speak to the broader mission and community of the Association as a whole, directly to an engaged and curious Parisian audience.
A Continuing Legacy at the Carrousel du Louvre
As this year's Art Shopping fair drew to its close on 22 October, it added yet another successful chapter to the French publisher's growing history of participation at the Carrousel du Louvre. Having now taken part across four separate editions of this prestigious event, the mouth and foot painting community continues to build a meaningful and lasting presence within one of Paris's most significant contemporary art gatherings — offering artists like Serge Maudet, Henri-Clairy Hembert, and Arnaud Dubarre a consistent and valuable platform through which to share their talent, their stories, and their artistic vision with thousands of art lovers year after year.
Source: VDMFK News