Gilles Balmet
Benoit Broisat
Claire Fontaine
Vincent Lamouroux
Guillaume Leblon
Bettina Samson
Denis Savary
Yann Serandour
An exhibition curated by Charlotte Laubard that gathers 9 artists from the young French art scene: Gilles Balmet, Benoit Broisat, Claire Fontaine, Ghazel, Vincent Lamouroux, Guillaume Leblon, Bettina Samson, Denis Savary, Yann Serandour. In literature, the incipit designates the first phrases of a novel, and in cinema the first scenes of a movie. The artworks in the show take a stand on implicit and incomplete communications.
From October 3rd to November 10, the Fondation d’Entreprise Ricard will show
"Incipit ", an exhibition curated by Charlotte Laubard that gathers nine artists
from the young French art scene: Gilles Balmet, Benoit Broisat, Claire Fontaine,
Ghazel, Vincent Lamouroux, Guillaume Leblon, Bettina Samson, Denis Savary,
Yann Serandour.
In literature, the incipit designates the first phrases of a novel, and in cinema the first scenes of a
movie. It functions as a threshold, an open frontier between the outside of the real world and the
inside of fiction. It is the beginning of a narration that anticipates what will come to pass, and
suggests arrival with no thing being unveiled.
Rather than wanting to push these works towards analysis and categories borrowed from literary
and cinematic discourses, "Incipit " simply focuses on the moment of becoming of the work, where
these artists avow their relationship with reality and take-a-stand.
The exhibition is inspired by the video "A fire is a fire is not a fire" by Claire Fontaine (2006), a
disturbing representation of a press photograph of a car set on fire slowly burning. How are artists
responding to or avoiding such an event? Events like the riots of last November in France that will
affect the long-term basis our representations.
Tuning into burning questions and scrutinizing the anomalies of reality and the surrounding modes of
control and subversion, these works of "Incipit" take a stand on implicit and incomplete
communications. By opting for blurred signs, remaining ambiguous in references and messages,
each modality of appearance, plays with expectations, disorientating immersions and seductions
between laughter and anxiety.
The precipice of the viewer’s hesitation produces a nebulous drama where this anxiety is played out.
Fondation d’Entreprise Ricard’ Prize 2006
Created in 1999, the prize will be awarded to one of the artists of "Incipit". French collectors will
award the prize during the FIAC. This year, the foundation increases the value of this prize of 50%.
The prize consists of purchasing the artist who win a work of art which is then offered to and
exhibited at the Centre Georges Pompidou.
Practical information
Exhibition from 3 October to 10 November 2006
Opening on Monday 2nd October 2006 from 6.30 pm to 9 pm
Fondation d'Entreprise Ricard
9, rue Royale - Paris
Free entrance from Monday to Wednesday from 10 am to 7 pm
Open on Saturdays 21 and 28 October 2006