In the last few days in Lyon there have been some things that have come into focus for me. I am mourning the end of my time here in Lyon by trying to reflect on what I have seen and absorb more of the city. Lyon is a city that clearly values art of all forms and the 15th Biennale de Lyon is a great example of how it is showcased. This morning I was taken aback by the sheer scale of the work at the Usines Fagor. I have never seen this kind of work done in any contemporary museum. The modern works of art that are on display at the SAM for example are held to be precious. They are put on pedestals and are very much separate from their audience. But not here. The art is on the same level as each of us. It was asking to be walked around and walked through. At first I was uncertain if I was allowed to walk through the pieces like the oversized black berry brambles or the rooms covered in plastic but as I watched others interact with the art I realized that there was no barrier and no one telling me to keep my distance from stopping me getting up close to the art. This completely changed the experience of the art. Maybe it is because it is a temporary exposition and it is such a wide-reaching project that they are able to take a much more casual stance to the art. It feels like an extension of the French attitude that allows them to be more laid back and less preoccupied with how people are interacting with the pieces. 

I find contemporary art fascinating. I am enthralled by it, but I rarely find it beautiful. There is a lack of attention payed to the aesthetics of the piece which allows the artist to explore the other realms of the work like the emotion that it imparts onto the viewer. The work at the Usines Fagor was extremely successful in making me feel emotion. It was not a very pleasant emotion, mostly confusion, fear and stress but it did make me feel. Walking around the exhibition I could not help but think “how did I find myself here?”. I felt like my decision to go on this study abroad trip was made so quickly, and I did not fully consider what it would mean to go to Lyon before I arrived. I am very happy that I am here but so much of it still feels surreal. My sense of reality has shifted by spending so much time in this place and the exhibit this morning put that into perspective. It was unexpected and experiential which encapsulates so many of my experiences on this trip. Contemporary art is not always meant to be understood but it can be felt.