Dector & Dupuy's Urban Archaeology at Le Quartier, Quimper

Key facts

• Dector & Dupuy (both named Michel) have worked as a duo for about twenty years.
• They document signs of conflict in public spaces: scratches, crushed animals, tags, posters, objects.
• They organize guided tours as part of their practice.
• Their work is described as a modest but fundamental form of archaeology.
• They follow the urban dérive traditions of Surrealists and Situationists.
• Their true artistic lineage is with the Nouveaux Réalistes, especially affichistes Hains and Villeglé.
• They operated in Quimper, the hometown of Jacques Villeglé.
• Exhibition at Le Quartier Centre d'art contemporain, Quimper, from 22 November 2009 to 10 January 2010.
• First room: project with Réseau Éducation sans Frontières, displaying banners including 'Laissez-les grandir ici'.
• Banners were authentic, given by activists in exchange for faithful new copies.
• The work questions readymade, artist's role, and community visibility.
• Blue chalk line on three walls echoed public scratches but was unconvincing.
• Pilgrim's staff found near Saint-Corentin Cathedral felt rustic and out of place.
• Restored letters 'LECL' from Leclerc center sign after dairy farmers' protest were powerful.
• Reconstructed broken glass from hypermarket turnstile also presented.
• Artists acknowledged the vanity of restoration but their history shows no complacent political stance.
• A floor piece: grid of strings (carroyage) with exploded beer can fragments from in front of the art center.
• Work superimposes purified ideals and violent reality, creating tense polysemy.