A STRANGE DISCOVERY
I have just had a wonderful series of conferences at the Ecole du Louvre on the German ExpressionnismeS - periods which I really appreciate such as the Blue Rider with Kandinsky (Munich) and Die Brücke with Emil Nolde in Berlin. We finished the series with a visit to the Beaubourg. Although I know the paintings well, it was marvelous having certain points confirmed and many other to learn. That was not enough though as there really was nothing I wanted to see in Paris at the moment. New I mean. When Laurent suggested Oscar Munoz at the Jeu De Paume, I jumped at it. A photographer I knew nothing about (although Laurent told me that we had seen some of his work at the Biennale in Venice).
Look at the three "poles" in front of the Jeu de Paume! And the preparations for the 14th July.
It really is marvelous to go to an exhibition and be able to see something new and share ideas as I do with Laurent. I doubt if I would have gone alone to see the photographer in question. Frankly I felt totally at a loss when we entered onto a huge glass floor which were views from the « sky » of a city. It felt very strange.
Just a little about him as I think it’s worthwhile. Born in Colombia in 1951. He’s had a lot of exhibitions around the world. The one we must have seen was the Venice Biennale (2007). I have to admit that I don’t remember his work and yet after this exhibition, I will not forget it.
Over the past three decades, he has developed an incredible body of work that explores the relationship between image and memory.
His work seems to blur the boundaries between photography, printmaking, drawing, installations and even sculptures if you can call « shower curtains » such!
There were no traditional formats, so I gather he has abandoned such techniques. What is so strange about his work is that he seems to incorporate self destructive elements - like photographic images being washed down the sink, or drips of water which change the photograph or yet again, painting on rocks (probably granite of some kind) and as fast as he draws, the portrait disappears from view.
It’s difficult to define if it is poetic or even to find a word which describes his work simply. We were able to take as many photographs as wanted to and yet the videos did not show as clearly what we saw and photos which performed a disappearing act were certainly not up to his work. Even blowing air on a mirror, it was difficult to see the image as it appeared and I assure you that this is not one of them.
Even the cigarette burns seem to be too regular - their shape barely changes.....
I wonder if he questions identity? I would describe him as a visual artist and not a photographer. He seems to manipulate images, his own as well as people we don’t know and will never know about. Sometimes his « paintings » of charcoal of cloth don’t look photographic at all
but perhaps they are? Fascinating…..
Look at the three "poles" in front of the Jeu de Paume! And the preparations for the 14th July.
It really is marvelous to go to an exhibition and be able to see something new and share ideas as I do with Laurent. I doubt if I would have gone alone to see the photographer in question. Frankly I felt totally at a loss when we entered onto a huge glass floor which were views from the « sky » of a city. It felt very strange.
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| My shadow on a city |
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| Ajouter une légende |
Just a little about him as I think it’s worthwhile. Born in Colombia in 1951. He’s had a lot of exhibitions around the world. The one we must have seen was the Venice Biennale (2007). I have to admit that I don’t remember his work and yet after this exhibition, I will not forget it.
Over the past three decades, he has developed an incredible body of work that explores the relationship between image and memory.
His work seems to blur the boundaries between photography, printmaking, drawing, installations and even sculptures if you can call « shower curtains » such!
 |
| Strange |
 |
| shower curtains |
 |
| with Laurent wandering |
 |
| through..... |
There were no traditional formats, so I gather he has abandoned such techniques. What is so strange about his work is that he seems to incorporate self destructive elements - like photographic images being washed down the sink, or drips of water which change the photograph or yet again, painting on rocks (probably granite of some kind) and as fast as he draws, the portrait disappears from view.
 |
| As fast as he designs |
 |
| it disappears |
 |
| or is washed down the sink... |
 |
| or drips onto an image and changes the shape |
It’s difficult to define if it is poetic or even to find a word which describes his work simply. We were able to take as many photographs as wanted to and yet the videos did not show as clearly what we saw and photos which performed a disappearing act were certainly not up to his work. Even blowing air on a mirror, it was difficult to see the image as it appeared and I assure you that this is not one of them.
Even the cigarette burns seem to be too regular - their shape barely changes.....
 |
| Those are |
 |
| holes |
 |
| created by cigarettes |
 |
| weird? |
I wonder if he questions identity? I would describe him as a visual artist and not a photographer. He seems to manipulate images, his own as well as people we don’t know and will never know about. Sometimes his « paintings » of charcoal of cloth don’t look photographic at all
 |
| charcoal on cloth..... |
but perhaps they are? Fascinating…..
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