Jean-Luc Mercié's Monograph on Pierre Molinier Published by Les presses du réel-Kamel Mennour

A new monograph on Pierre Molinier by Jean-Luc Mercié has been published by Les presses du réel-Kamel Mennour, coinciding with the artist's exhibition at Galerie Kamel Mennour, which follows previous shows in 2000 and 2005. Mercié's essay avoids heavy psychoanalytic interpretation and instead draws on unpublished documents, including a large number of letters from Molinier's archives, to offer a fresh perspective on the artist's biography. The book provides an in-depth analysis of Molinier's photomontages and the previously under-explored connection between his paintings and photographs. Mercié reveals Molinier's hands-on process, showing him as a house painter who also crafted women's underwear and props for his cross-dressing and stagings. The text traces the transformation of the short, stern-looking man into idealized female idols with perfect legs and buttocks that would rival any top model of his time. It also examines the meticulous formal work—collages, photomontages, interventions on negatives and prints—that preceded and extended the photographic act. Mercié emphasizes the central role of the women Molinier loved in his life and work. The book is described as passionate and modest in ambition, offering a new viewpoint on the artist's biography and a thorough analysis of his work.