ART REVIEW:Future, Former, Fugitive
It has been many years (15 consecutive) since I commute to Paris and I keep tracking the French Art Scène, once again in the exhibition entitled “Future, Former, Fugitive-A French scene” at Palais de Tokyo with artworks by the French artists, many of whom are award-winners, once again the exhibition is a total loss of hope. Looks like that the French artist have lost the contact with any reality, it is as if they are not watching the international art scene, as if they are completely cut off. They are trying to approach the contemporary issues of our time but their modus and artistic language are completely outdated. Although Paris, as I have been arguing for 5 years, will be the Europe’s new Metropolis of Contemporary Art, after London and Berlin, the French Art Scène ceremoniously ignores it. This fact was clearly evident at the 57th Venice Biennale and the way its director (chief curator at the Centre Pompidou), Christine Macel, handled and promoted curators, artists, galleries and museums. Looks like the yarns have been moved towards a well-organized and well-structured cultural policy, and this is proved by both the previous three Art Fairs (FIAC and Internationalle); the international way of organizing, with the help and collaboration of highly experienced directors and curators of institutions, exhibitions with international standards in Museums, Institutions and Galleries; the 13th edition of Manifesta in Marseille and Region Sud in June 2020; la Biennale de Lyon; MOCO (Montpellier Contemporain), directed by Nicolas Bourriaud, who in March 2002 with Jérôme Sans launched the Palais de Tokyo with a restricted operating budget). Α pioneer and innovator, Nicolas Bourriaud has a restless spirit that sometimes cost him, but a person who really is very important on the chessboard of French culture. And if the crisis in the French economy seems to break out much earlier than expected, before the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, do not forget that the 8th President of the Fifth Republic of France, Emmanuel Macron, in September 2008 left his job as an Inspector of Finances and took a position at Rothschild & Cie Banque, at first assisting with the acquisition of Cofidis by Crédit Mutuel Nord Europe and after as managing director; the crisis in the French Art Scène is obvious, it doesn’t need only new ideas but radical refreshment!!!-Efi Michalarou