Nuit Blanche Paris 2010; A Time To Say 'No' To Sweet Dreams.

Nuit Blanche is a night which worth saying no to sleep. The festival of Nuit Blanche in 2010 was celebrated on 2nd of October. According to estimates, around one million people participated in different activities and performances to make the white night a merry and cheerful event. Indeed, I am talking about Paris; the city of colors and lights.

Parisians, as citizens of Paris take pleasure to introduce themselves, know very well how to appreciate finer details of life and they are very passionate about art and history. On the eve of Nuit Blanche, the city offered a wide range of performances, shows and activities for its art lovers population and visitors alike!

In very simple words, Nuit Blanche means a white night. However, you can also call it 'sleepless night' or 'light night'. Since most of the performances and programs end after the midnight, one can rightly say it as a 'sleepless night'.



Nuit Blanche is a once-in-year night long extravaganza which offers an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of different forms of art at no price. Entry to most of the museums and art galleries is free. The transport is available is available all the night so there is no problem of commuting in the city.

The idea of this all night festival is a brainchild of Bertrand Belanoe, who started this event in 2002 to provide an opportunity to people to enjoy and have a fun without a price tag. Cinemas and Swimming pools remain open all the night. Since Nuit Blanche fell on Saturday, people did not hesitate to enjoy the offerings of the night as they could sleep next day.

In the museums and art galleries, the festival was celebrated with some special performances. In Pompidou Center, an art gallery and library, performances started from 0800 p.m. and last performance was scheduled to start at 0100 a.m.

When I visited the library section of Pompidou Center, Magali Desbazeille and Siegfried Canto were performing their eye-catching performance , which included interesting demonstrations using books and papers. Didier Aschour was the next artist to perform 'Pendulum Music' at 10 p.m. however I preferred to move out and see what is happening in the neighborhood.



Splendid and majestic building of Hotel de Ville, or Municipality of Paris, was lightened up with pleasant and different colorful lights. On its front, a phrase proclaiming "Love the Differences" was marked in twenty languages to appreciate the value of pluralism. Surprisingly the glorious Cathedral of Notre-Dam was not illuminated. However, in illuminated neighborhood, it gave a very noble and dignified look. In Musée Guimet ( Museum of Guimet ), the work of Chinese artist Chen Zen was under display.

Artists and performers were displaying their talents in the streets, too. At one place I saw a little caravan of three big carts, of the size of normal vans. Designs and structure were quite creative and innovative, which used wood and metallic components to build them up. All performers were dressed in similar dresses. Some of them were sitting, performing, shouting on the vehicles, while others were busy in driving them with manual force. Onlookers, having their lips adorned with smiles and happiness, walking along the carriages and making pictures and movies.

One night was hardly enough to accumulate to appreciate what an enriched city had offered. I realized it around midnight and decided that next time I would be better prepared to explore this 'white night' in a greater detail.

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