Interpreting 'Parrotgration,' a Parisian urban legend
"Parrotgration: Être Passeur de Cultures," an official project of the 20th Croisements Festival in 2026, is on display at the Bund 18 Jiushi Art Gallery.
The exhibition features over 70 works by 15 artists from diverse multicultural backgrounds, showcasing a variety of artistic forms, including oil painting, ink painting, acrylic, and mixed media. Each artist offers a unique interpretation of the central concept of "Parrotgration."
"Parrotgration" was inspired by a Parisian urban legend. In the 1970s, tropical parrots migrated to the city. Initially regarded as outsiders, they gradually adapted to their new surroundings. Their vibrant plumage against the grey Parisian sky became a local icon.
By blending "parrot" with "immigration," the curatorial team devised "Parrotgration" as the exhibition's spiritual core, using this natural migration as a metaphor for cultural integration.
"Parrotgration" captures cross-cultural artists' creativity. Similar to the parrots that settled in Paris, artists from diverse backgrounds in France adapt to new contexts while retaining their identities. They use cultural differences and interactions to spark their creativity rather than blending in. Calligraphy, ink painting, Zen philosophy, Western abstract expressionism, contemporary sculpture, and experimental art interact here.
Fusion is a dynamic process of cultural navigation and reinvention, not just transplantation. These artists connect East and West by staying true to their roots and embracing new possibilities.
French artist Gaël Davrinche infuses still life with surrealist elements, adding a contemporary twist to traditional art. Emeric Chantier combines industrial and natural materials in his sculptures to explore the relationship between humanity and nature. Some participating artists reinterpret Eastern aesthetics, infusing them with new vitality within a Western context. For instance, An Xiaotong merges ink painting with metal foil collage, while Li Donglu incorporates Eastern Zen into Western oil painting.
If you go
Date: Through June 29, 10am–6pm
Venue: Bund 18 Jiushi Art Gallery
Address: 2/F, 18 Zhongshan Rd E1 中山东一路18号2楼
Admission: Free
