Chauffe, Marcel: A Duchampian Catalogue from Languedoc-Roussillon

Published this summer for a namesake event spanning multiple exhibitions across about twenty venues in Languedoc-Roussillon, this catalogue serves as a tool to support the educational and cultural policy mission of institutional officials in the region, notably FRAC director Emmanuel Latreille, who also acted as general curator. The well-illustrated volume reproduces around one hundred works, many annotated, bringing a large portion of the FRAC's rich collection to audiences beyond the contemporary art circle. It juxtaposes these with new creations and major pieces borrowed from private collectors or other public collections. Even art professionals may discover surprises. The reference to Marcel Duchamp is intended to be as free and humorous as the spirit of the "anartist" who revolutionized art's "value." A letter from writer Tanguy Viel to Marcel highlights the possibility of being an individual free from fear of ridicule. Latreille's text detailing his daily schedule proves that imitation of Duchamp cannot be mere illustration. This Journal connects the many exhibited works, while Daniel Dezeuze's essay attempts a comparative analysis between Pollock and Duchamp. The standout is Bernard Marcadé's "glossary in the form of a user manual," both amusing and serious, reflecting the ease of a specialist-biographer in facilitating access to the Duchampian economy without caricature.