CATCHING UP WITH OLD FRIENDS AND MEETING NEW ONES

octobre 09, 2016

I hadn’t been back to look at the new presentation at the MAM and as at the end of the holiday period there really is not too much to do in Paris, exhibition wise, this seemed like a good time to do it. There was one small exhibition on which l had not seen when there earlier in the year to see the Marquet. This time I would read up a little and see what l would see. Jacques Grinberg.

He was born in Sofia in 1941 died in Malakoff (France) in 2011. When he was 13 the family left to live in Israel when he went to school in a Kibboutz. Very early he was « attracted » to painting and for three years studied at an art Institute in Tel Aviv. Even if he had had a first exhibition, he decided to come to Paris in 1962, so only 21. He started work in the artist colony in Montmartre

I then started looking a little closer at his work. For me he was a forerunner on the New Figuration (Nouvelle Figuration). Certainly not pop art which appeared in the Narrative Figuration (Figuration narrative). The critics like his work and describe him as one of the stronger force in this new tendency.   I wouldn’t read any more although I did look briefly at his painting before leaving home.

Now you can see his work…

No title 2010

The Cow and the Bourgois 2016

No title 2010

Censored 1993

No title in the 80s

Child 1963

War in Irak - 1992

Fasciste (head of a rat) 1985

Pax around 1990

Portrait of Benoit - 1990

Distorsion -2005

The sea - 1971

The Rhinocerso - 1968

Grand Carnaval 1965

He is certainly a master of a pictorial expression and his work did not leave me indifferent at all. It’s political, violent at times, anti establishment, anti military but also somehow its lonely, almost as if he is closing himself in.

Versus his predecessors who were generally traumatized by the second world war (remember we were in the early 60s) he faced the horrors even what was still going on at that time. Fascism. Everything I looked at on Internet afterwards, none of his paintings had been pacified. His choice of colors, the strength in those brush strokes. Perhaps not the most soothing of artists, but I had met a new friend.

Now I would discover a little more about the new presentation in the MAM.

David Altmejd "The Nuts" 2014

While I was looking at this , a statue by David Altmejd (Canadian), a woman came up to me and remarked « we love him and are very proud of his work. He’s Canadian you know ». From her accent it was obvious that she was Canadian but she didn’t hang around to look at this « creature » for long. Neither did I. After Grinberg’s work, it was very disturbing. I had seen his work in Montreal but would hardly say « I loved it ».   

Estuary 2014

Merlin James (UK -1960…) seemed to be very diversified in his approach. This work is called Estuary and painted in 2014. Something very soothing about it and lots of little creatures to look at too.

Roni Horn "Dead Owl" 1997

Roni Horn is an old « friend » I wish he had just called it « Owl » rather than « Dead Owl » (1997). The description given for the work seemed to contain a lot of words and was complicated. I’d like to thing that this is Harry Potter’s owl and he comes to life in a magical flash when needed.

Per Kirkeby (1938…) is also an « old friend » « Zwei Arme lll » is what l would call very erotic. If that was his intention is another story.

Per Kirkeby " Two Arms lll" 1985

Per Kirkeby "No Title" 1981

In the new acquisitions there were as usual modern today artists that l had not come across before.


Gustav's Wing 2013

Dans Vo (1975…). There are six fragments in this sculpture of a human figure in bronze. The artist’s nephew, Gustav when he was 11 years old. It’s called Gustav’s Wing (2013)…no, it wasn’t someone who would be in the friend list.

Blown Knot 6 3 2 : 2012

  However, Jean-Luc Moulène (1955…) called this unique piece of blown glass « Blown Knot 6 3 2. He’s French and has given a lot of exhibitions around the world. A contemporary artist and although I liked what I saw of his glass work, I can’t say his photographs or installations appealed to me either.

"Mutiprise suisse" 2000

Mathieu Mercier (1980…) is a French plasticien. This (« Multiprise suisse) didn’t do anything for me either. Apparently he draws on the legacy of the ready made to challenge the status of the object. The two chairs are his too…well, is that art for you?

In an email to a friend in Sydney, I referred to these so called contemporary artists of today. I find it difficult to get along with their installations. It seems to be a long and painful interrogation of an object situated in art today. It’s ambiguous between image and reality.   Now, I would go and look at some « old friends » again….oufff