Two shows at the Monde Arabe - The Phoenicians and Contemporary art

Wow! I'm used to going to the Monde Arabe's big show upstairs and then feel obligated to see what they've got in the basement which ranges from (I must admit) interesting Magrebian photography to so-so fabrics to real crap. Not now.

Now, admittedly, the Phoenician show upstairs is a block-buster, in my memory even better than the one in Venice at the Palazzo Grassi almost two decades ago. The sheer beauty of the sculpture and jewelry and objects is stunning.

But in the basement is a show of contemporary Arab art that really snaps your head back. There's stuff like the picture above, that could, indeed should be on Madison Avenue. Please do go, you'll be astonished.