Christian Berst on the challenges of exhibiting art brut today
In a discussion with artpress2, gallerist Christian Berst expresses his disapproval of Jean Dubuffet's separatist view of art brut, as well as Harald Szeemann's integrationist stance. He proposes a middle ground that acknowledges the uniqueness of art brut. Berst references notable exhibitions such as Arnulf Rainer and Augustin Lesage at La Maison Rouge and Habiter poétiquement le monde at LaM in 2010. He critiques Massimiliano Gioni's 2013 Venice Biennale for not adequately contextualizing artists like Anna Zemankova. Additionally, he raises ethical concerns regarding the disclosure of artists' backgrounds, emphasizing the importance of honoring their identities. Berst cautions against the label 'outsider art' and the misuse of art brut to validate art therapy. His gallery, established in 2005, focuses on contemporary art brut and presents seven exhibitions each year.
Key facts
- Christian Berst is the only Parisian gallerist specializing in art brut.
- Berst advocates a third way between Dubuffet's separatism and Szeemann's integrationism.
- The interview appears in artpress2 n°30 'Les mondes de l'art brut' (August-September-October 2013).
- Harald Szeemann exhibited Adolf Wölfli at Documenta 5 in 1972.
- Successful exhibitions cited: Arnulf Rainer and his collection of art brut (2005), Augustin Lesage and Elmar Trenkwalder (2008) at La Maison Rouge, and Habiter poétiquement le monde at LaM (2010).
- Massimiliano Gioni's 2013 Venice Biennale is criticized for presenting art brut without context.
- Berst curated Arte Bruta: terra incognita at Museu Vieira da Silva, Lisbon in 2012.
- Berst will curate the first major art brut exhibition in China in 2015.
- Upcoming exhibitions: contemporary art brut (September 2013), Masao Obata (October-November 2013), James Edward Deeds (December 2013-January 2014).
- Berst rejects the term 'outsider art' as reductive.
Entities
Artists
- Christian Berst
- Jean Dubuffet
- Harald Szeemann
- Adolf Wölfli
- Arnulf Rainer
- Augustin Lesage
- Elmar Trenkwalder
- Massimiliano Gioni
- Anna Zemankova
- Guo Fengyi
- Arthur Bispo do Rosário
- Judith Scott
- Henry Darger
- Bruno Decharme
- Antoine de Galbert
- Sandra Adam-Couralet
- André Breton
- Max Ernst
- Paul Klee
- James Edward Deeds
- Masao Obata
- Claire Margat
Institutions
- Galerie Christian Berst
- artpress2
- Compagnie de l'Art Brut
- Collection de l'Art Brut
- Museum of Everything
- La Maison Rouge
- LaM (Lille Métropole Musée d'art moderne, d'art contemporain et d'art brut)
- Halle Saint Pierre
- Collection abcd
- Pavillon des Arts
- Collège des Bernardins
- Museu Vieira da Silva
- Documenta
- Biennale di Venezia
- Galerie René Drouin
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Lausanne
- Switzerland
- Montmartre
- Villeneuve d'Ascq
- Lisbon
- Portugal
- Kassel
- Germany
- Venice
- Italy
- China
Sources
- artpress —