Picture taking playground: Monumenta by Daniel Buren Exhibition at Grand Palais

Looking through two glass ceilings at the checkered ceiling at the top of the glass roof in the
Grand Palais.

Last week, I went to see one of the many exhibits at the Grand Palais: Daniel Buren's Monumenta 2012 (on display until June 21). It really is a photography playground, with installations of glass ceilings of different colors placed around so you can let your inner photographer run wild and play with the different colors and angles. It is only 5€ to enter, and is an interesting exhibit that can last anywhere from 10 minutes (if you just walk through) to an hour (if you decide to take lots of pictures and eat there). But it also gives you a chance (or excuse) to see the Grand Palais, which was built for the 1900's World Fair.

Arrows on the road leading to the Monumenta exhibit.

There are usually many simultaneous exhibits at the Grand Palais, which hosts art/photography exhibits, fashion shows, and other events or exhibitions centered around daily life or cultural happenings. Make sure you get in the correct line for the exhibit you want to see, otherwise you could be waiting for a while only to find out that you have to wait in another line. For the Monumenta exhibit, there are striped arrows leading the way.

View of Monumenta installation.

In the center of the exhibit, right under the main glass dome of the Grand Palais, are mirrors so you can look at installations and people at different angles. Beware, girls in skirts!

Telling you guys "bonjour!" through the looking glass.

P looking at Monumenta from the staircase in the Grand Palais. I think he might actually be looking
at other people's food below.

At one side of the installation are grand (and beautifully ornate) staircases so you can have a bird's-eye-view of the glass ceilings. There is also a food stand to buy (expensive) food and drinks. But then you can chill at a table under your chosen ceiling color. Green would be a good choice so you can pretend that you are eating something healthy.

French kid scooting around the exhibition.

I don't know what the rules are about what you can and cannot bring into the exhibit, but it seemed pretty lenient (unlike other exhibitions in Paris). Definitely cameras are allowed (they even have competitions of sorts to for the best photos taken Monumenta). I brought in a water bottle, and kids and parents brought in strollers and razor scooters.