ART-TRIBUTE:A Republic of Art
Can we begin to map recent cultural history? What do contemporary artists and their works have to say about their own time and place. How do we combine the story of a nation with globalisation? A Republic of Art is an exhibition about the world of visual culture in the French republic from the establishment of the FRAC (Regional collections of contemporary art) system in 1982 right up to today.
By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: Van Abbemuseum Archive
These 23 publically funded organisations, spread throughout France have gathered together over 26,000 artworks. Working from their local contexts and incorporating a view of the world from France. Some 50% of the works are made by French Citizens, the rest originate from around the world. This major exhibition which takes place in the ten classical galleries of old building of the Van Abbemuseum includes artworks by some of the most established artists today as well as surprising selections and archival presentations of their relationship to particular places in France and presentations of the stories that have accrued around certain artworks once they have come into the collections. Beginning in the 80’s and reflecting on the huge changes of that decade in which the world began to move dramatically closer together through changes at the political, technological and cultural levels. It follows the development of contemporary art throughout the next 30 years exploring this period from the end of communism to the expansion of the free market, which in turn stimulated an explosion in the art market to the current disintegration of social democratic state throughout Europe. It also accounts for political vision and ambition of the French state in its support and active dissemination of visual art over the last 30 years. As the 1990s and 2000s progressed, art became both more global and yet more located than ever. Relational contexts and site-specific commissions coincided with digital distribution and the irrepressible growth of international biennales. Artists migrated over national borders along with ever more of the world’s population, and national artistic styles seem to be erased in favour of the shared aesthetics of contemporary art. The exhibition aims to raise some general questions. How much does art capture of the spirit of a moment? Where do the personal visions of an artist connect to the collective recollections of a society? Can we detect French characteristics in these French collections, or are we all living in one world today? How has the current disintegration of the once powerful social welfare state effected this praxis? At the same time, it is a celebration of three decades of artistic creativity. This is a period when the function of the artist as an individual producing symbolic capital, innovative ideas and flexible solutions has never been more valued in society at large. The exhibition explores how artistic subject matter spiralled out in all directions and media, merging with life while becoming both luxurious and popular and the same time.
Info: A Republic of Art, Curating: Annie Fletcher & Diana Franssen. Assistant Curator: Lena Reisner, Van Abbemuseum, Bilderdijklaan 1, Eindhoven, Duration: 27/6-4/10/15, Days & Hours: Tue-Sat: 11:00-17:00, http://vanabbemuseum.nl
