ART-PRESENTATION: The Truth of appareances–stories of symbols, patterns and language
In the exhibition “The truth of apparences-stories of symbols, patterns and language”, seven artists continue the exploration of how the patterns, shapes and vocabulary and the ideas that they carry are used in contemporary art to renew the language.
By Efi Michalarou
Photo: Galerie De Russan Archive
“The truth of appareances” is divided in two sections, the second part takes place at the Galerie De Russan and the first section “The truth of appearances – stories of codes and reflections” takes place at Espace d’Art Contemporain La Tôlerie. As the curator of the exhibition Fabienne Bideaud says: “How are these patterns, shapes and vocabulary used in contemporary art? What is the meaning of this mise-en-scène? Symbolism merges with instantaneous meanings of images. The symbol represents a story, an ideology, a discourse. All the artists exhibited in “The truth of appearances – stories of symbols, patterns and language” use pattern, image and materials in a subversive way. This is not about making an inventory of all the signs of our daily life but about making language and forms our own to a very personal and structural end”. In the video of Vaclav Magid, the living room of his parents is transformed in a stage where he performs twelve simple actions. Each action uses an on-stage element. Each manipulation produces a sound composition of 12 series of 12 pitches, an interior movement. Kapwani Kiwanga turns the famous “kangas” fabric manufactured in Eastern Africa into sculpture. This fabric full of meaning, since each pattern corresponds to a specific use and the text expresses an opinion or a feeling. Anyhow the type of fabric and the text are not harmless but become a space for claims. François Mazabraud, in his in situ work is covering a part of a wall of the gallery with blue paper used by dentists. He has turned the utilitarian aspect of the object into a decorative surface, like a tapestry or wallpaper. Participating artists: in “Stories of codes and reflections”: Ivan Argote, john M. Armleder, Pauline Boudry/Renate Lorenz, Madeleine Berkhemer, Robert Filliou, Kapwani Kiwanga, Vaclan MAgid, Emmanuel Van Der Meulen. In “Stories Of Symbols, Patterns And Language”: Anna Ådahl, Donatella Bernardi, Jagna Ciuchta, Lukas Hoffmann, Kapwani Kiwanga, Václav Magid & François Mazabraud.
Info: “The truth of appearances – stories of codes and reflections”, Curator: Fabienne Bideaud, Espace d’Art Contemporain La Tôlerie, 10, rue de Bien- Assis, Clermont-Ferrand, Duration: 17/9-5/12/15, Days & Hours: Tue-Sat: 14:00-18:00, www.clermont-ferrand.fr, “The truth of apparences -stories of symbols, patterns and language”, Curator: Fabienne Bideaud, Galerie De Russan, Duration: 5/9/15-31/10/15, Days & Hours: Tue-Sat: 11:00-19:00, www.galeriederoussan.com
