Adam McEwen Curates 'Fresh Hell' at Palais de Tokyo, Mixing Medieval and Contemporary Art

The Palais de Tokyo in Paris presents 'Fresh Hell', a carte blanche exhibition curated by British artist Adam McEwen, running from October 20, 2010 to January 16, 2011. Following previous carte blanche exhibitions by Ugo Rondinone (2008) and Jeremy Deller (2009), McEwen assembles a transhistorical selection that juxtaposes medieval artworks with contemporary pieces, challenging linear art historical narratives. The exhibition includes heads of the kings of Judah from Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, alongside works by H.C. Westermann (rarely shown in Europe), drawings by Philip Guston, and a video by Bruce Nauman and Frank Owen. McEwen states, 'All history is present at the same time, available, in a sense equivalent... I am often more struck by similarities between artistic forms or distinct periods of art history than by differences.' He aims to create resonances between works that would not normally coexist. While some critics note the exhibition can be opaque or rushed, McEwen embraces failure as inherent to creativity, saying, 'History is a brick wall that must constantly be blown up in order to move forward.' The exhibition is reviewed by Erik Verhagen.