Joseph Kosuth's Ex-Libris Celebrates Decade in Figeac
During the summer of 2002, Figeac marked a decade since the unveiling of Joseph Kosuth's Ex-Libris J.F. Champollion, which was commissioned in 1990 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Jean-François Champollion's birth. Champollion is renowned for deciphering the Rosetta Stone in 1822. This artwork, located in Place des Écritures near the Musée Champollion, boasts a black granite replica of the Rosetta Stone, designed in collaboration with architect Philippe Bergès. The installation features an Egyptian garden and an underground chamber with a door that bears the French translation of the stone's trilingual inscription. The anniversary festivities included a small exhibition of five works by Kosuth and a roundtable discussion with the artist and others. Artpress released a booklet on Ex-Libris for the event, and Kosuth was featured in its inaugural issue in December 1972.
Key facts
- Joseph Kosuth's Ex-Libris J.F. Champollion celebrated its tenth anniversary in Figeac in summer 2002.
- The work was commissioned in 1990 for the bicentenary of Jean-François Champollion's birth.
- Champollion deciphered the Rosetta Stone in 1822.
- The installation includes a black granite Rosetta Stone replica, an Egyptian garden, and an underground room.
- Architect Philippe Bergès collaborated on the project.
- A small exhibition of five Kosuth works and a roundtable on public commissions were held.
- One and Three Chairs (1965) was included in the exhibition.
- Kosuth appeared in the first issue of artpress in December 1972.
Entities
Artists
- Joseph Kosuth
- Jean-François Champollion
- Philippe Bergès
- Richard Leydier
- Guy Amsellem
- Ghislain Mollet-Vieville
- Jacinto Lageira
- Christian Ruby
- Martin Malvy
- Béatrice Salmon
- Plato
- Leon Battista Alberti
Institutions
- Musée Champollion
- artpress
Locations
- Figeac
- France
- Place des Écritures
Sources
- artpress —