Remembering Pascal Foucart and the artists of 59 Rue de Rivoli, Paris

One Saturday September 2017, then just a new face in Paris, was wandering around the streets and alleys, meeting new people, with no clue what to expect there.

When I exited the Châtelet–Les Halles central train hub, the first thing I saw was a rock band playing behind a large glass window across the street. It felt like their music pulled me into an alternate universe — one where I felt both welcomed and fascinated by the strange world behind those glass walls that I would soon explore.

Nestled in the heart of Paris, this former public building stands tall and proud. It's a haven for artists, a place where creativity flows freely, and imagination knows no bounds. This is 59 Rivoli, a former artists’ squat that has become a cultural icon. Once abandoned and forgotten, 59 Rivoli was given new life in 1999 when it was bought by the city and turned into artists’ studios. Today, it is home to over two dozen artists who have transformed its once-barren walls into a vibrant canvas of colors, shapes, and ideas. Each room, hallway, nook, and cranny is bursting with artwork, unlike any other place I’ve been.

As you step inside, you're enveloped by the buzz of creativity. We’re free to wander through the rooms, exploring each piece of art at our own pace. The artists are always around, eager to talk about their work and share their stories. It's a community where everyone is welcome and where inspiration can be found around every corner.

Throughout the year, 59 Rivoli hosts events that showcase the beauty and diversity of art. From live performances to film screenings, something exciting always happens here. It's a place where culture thrives, and people from all over the world come together to celebrate the power of art. In a city known for its history and grandeur, 59 Rivoli is a reminder of the beauty found in unexpected places. It's proof that when a group of passionate people comes together, they can bring even the most neglected spaces to life. It symbolizes hope and creativity, a beacon of light in a world that sometimes feels dark and uncertain.

Meeting Pascal Foucart and his companions.

During a break in the band's performance, I had a chance to explore some other floors, which were filled with artwork and had a fascinating creative vibe. Discovering these was such a unique and eye-opening experience! It quickly became clear that this was the residence of many artists from different countries, cultures, and genres, each building their own world of self-expression that both stood alone and contributed to the building’s extraordinary collection of art.

On the third floor, I gravitated towards a bunch of colorful baguettes nicely painted and stuck to the wall in one corner. The artist sat nearby, so I attempted to speak to him. Unfortunately, my French was still very limited, and he didn’t speak English, so this didn’t get very far and left me feeling embarrassed. Nonetheless, he defied the stereotype of the cocky Parisian; Pascal and his friends, including Pascal Thery, Daniel Popescu, and Frederic Lantos, were polite and patient enough that we were able to communicate despite the language barrier.

I ended up returning to 59 Rivoli almost every Saturday evening, both for this uniquely Parisian cultural experience and for some quality artsy time with Pascal Foucart and friends. We gathered to share good times, food, and music (Afro-Latin soul, sometimes old-school French), and we discussed many topics, from my research on Communicative functions of dance and music, to the concept of Nuit Blanche, to where we would go for dinner*.*

The soulful music and visual art gave visitors to 59 Rivoli a sense of hospitality and joy. Pascal was similarly warm and approachable, seated humbly behind his desk, working on his painting while occasionally chatting with a friend or a curious visitor.

Pascal faced health problems and spent years fighting for his life. It wasn’t easy for those who loved him — family, friends, and colleagues, basically everyone who had ever met and known Pascal — to see him suffer. Through it all, he continued making art, and we continued to admire his strength, optimism, and the most essential part of Pascal - his heart.

Having made it through the most challenging time of the pandemic, he said goodbye to us last year. I feel grateful that I had a chance to know such an inspiring person as Pascal Foucart. Our friendship reminded me to stay genuine, live mindfully, and acknowledge every second of the experience of living. Most importantly, I realized the power of solid connections and love, the things that make us feel alive, rather than just surviving.

Pascal referred to this image of my shadow reflected on a French street in Autumn to create this painting while at the hospital. It was sent to me after he had passed away.

We admired his strength, optimism, and still, what is all about Pascal - his heart. Having gone through the most challenging time in the pandemic, he said ‘goodbye’ to us last year while still dedicating himself full of love to this life. I’ve got a chance to know a human like him, which makes me so inspired and grateful.

Our friendship reminds me to stay genuine with myself, mindfully breathe and acknowledge every second of this living experience. Most importantly, I realized that solid connections and love are powerful, the only things that make us live immortally, not just survive.

Châtelet–Les Halles

Like a matrixed maze, Châtelet–Les Halles is a major underground complex of the city center.

Rue de Rivoli

Rue de Rivoli is a street in the heart of Paris where the artist collective 59 Rivoli is located. It is also where the narrator of this story met Pascal Foucart, one of the founders of the collective artist community.

59 Rivoli

59 Rivoli is an artist squat in Paris that has become one of the city’s cultural icons. Once abandoned and forgotten, 59 Rivoli was given new life in 1999 when artists claimed it as their own. Today, it is home to over two dozen artists who have transformed its once-barren walls into a vibrant canvas of colors, shapes, and ideas. Throughout the year, 59 Rivoli hosts events that showcase the beauty and diversity of art. From live performances to film screenings, something exciting always happens here. It's a place where culture thrives, and people from all over the world come together to celebrate the power of art.

Official website: https://www.59rivoli.org/

Facebook Fanpage: 59 Rivoli | Paris

Instagram: 59 Rivoli (@59rivoli)

Pascal Foucart

Pascal Foucart (1961 - 2022) is a renowned French artist and humanity activist based in Paris. He began painting in 1982 and has since developed his technique to include elements of famous painters such as Jackson Pollock, whom he considers one of his few "masters.” Pascal derives inspiration from astronomy, evident in his work through his use of colors that mirror constellations, the Milky Way, and supernovae.

Pascal's creativity knows no bounds, as he uses various mediums, such as naked bodies, clothing, and objects, to bring his artwork to life. He is an active member of the "59 Rivoli" artistic movement founded in 1999, located in the heart of Paris, where he continuously seeks to enrich the art scene. As evidence of his commitment to his craft, Pascal became a member of the Maison des Artistes in 2000.

The ongoing Magnéto Pascal exhibition pays tribute to Pascal Foucart by showcasing a retrospective of his works at 59 Rivoli.