The Paris Traveler

Peinture Serielle

by Kim on April 18th, 2008

This would be a Paris métro ticket–it has been serving the purpose of a bookmark for me these last couple of weeks which accounts for the bit of coffee stain. So not only will it get you anywhere you might want to go in Paris for about $1.50, it serves other utilitarian purposes once the ride is over. As you can see, they are pretty tiny–if I don’t have my glasses on, I can miss them altogether as they inevitably go to the deepest, darkest recesses of my over-sized bag that I lug around.  Tiny is the key word here as what you are about to see boggles my mind. 

 These “peinture serielle” are actually painted subway tickets, one created each day by artist Luc Grateau, as he makes his way through Paris on the métro.  On his daily commute along lines 10 and 12, he finds a subject, and in compliance with the métro’s “rules of discretion”, quietly and unobtrusively goes about the task of capturing a moment–”I go for something that poses a challenge for me, a hat, a scarf, a particular color or texture”.  Currently, he is unclear what he plans to do with these portraits, but a quick trip to his website will leave you amazed as you go through and pick your favorites.

 Additional Information:  The Independent, SerialPaintings.net

Photo credit:  Personal collection, SerialPaintings  

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POSTED IN: Interesting Locals