François Rouan's 'Contre image' at Les Abattoirs, Toulouse
The exhibition titled 'Contre image' will be held at Les Abattoirs in Toulouse from January 28 to May 7, 2006, showcasing a thematic overview of François Rouan's artistic journey spanning four decades. It is divided into seven distinct themes: 'grille', 'Répétition / Déperdition', 'Opus incertum', 'grotte', 'Persona', 'Le Jardin', and 'mémoire'. The display emphasizes Rouan's battle with imagery, featuring his early tressage method and the 'Portes' series. 'Répétition / Déperdition' highlights motifs from his time at Villa Médicis, while 'Opus incertum' includes the 'Stückes' series. 'grotte' examines imprinting in the 'Coquille' series, 'Persona' contemplates his wife's passing, 'Le Jardin' showcases landscapes, and 'mémoire' reflects on historical frescoes. The accompanying catalogue includes writings by Jean-Clet Martin, Dominique Radrizzani, Alain Mousseigne, and Pierre Guyotat.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Contre image' at Les Abattoirs, Toulouse, from January 28 to May 7, 2006
- Not a retrospective but a thematic survey of François Rouan's work over forty years
- Seven themes: grille, Répétition / Déperdition, Opus incertum, grotte, Persona, Le Jardin, mémoire
- Rouan's practice defined as a struggle against the image
- Grille theme includes early tressage and Portes series shown at Musée national d'art moderne in 1975
- Répétition / Déperdition features works from Rouan's stay at Villa Médicis, Rome (1971-1978)
- Opus incertum includes Stückes series referencing Nazi definition of Jewish corpses
- Grotte theme explores imprinting, central to Coquille series
- Persona theme addresses gaze, mask, skull; faces appear after death of wife Brigitte Courme
- Le Jardin covers landscapes from Italy to Engadine, Switzerland
- Mémoire theme engages with Lorenzetti's frescoes and Primatice's works
- Exhibition structure: central nave leads to seven rooms, themes interwoven
- Catalogue includes texts by Jean-Clet Martin, Dominique Radrizzani, Alain Mousseigne, Pierre Guyotat
Entities
Artists
- François Rouan
- Jean-Louis Baudry
- Ambrogio Lorenzetti
- Primatice
- Brigitte Courme
- Jean-Clet Martin
- Dominique Radrizzani
- Alain Mousseigne
- Pierre Guyotat
Institutions
- Les Abattoirs
- Musée national d'art moderne
- Villa Médicis
- Fresnoy
- musée de l'abbaye Sainte-Croix
Locations
- Toulouse
- France
- Rome
- Italy
- Viterbe
- Engadine
- Switzerland
- Grisons
- Les Sables d'Olonne
Sources
- artpress —