Marseille Artist Studios Explored in New Book

A new book titled "La Planque (collectif), Parenthèses" offers a collective portrait of thirteen artists living and working in Marseille. Edited by Françoise Siffrein-Blanc and Florence Denis-Loussier, the volume takes readers through neighborhoods from Le Panier to L'Estaque, including Saint-Victor and the Friche la Belle de Mai, a cultural complex undergoing restructuring. The city was preparing to become European Capital of Culture in 2013, and the book captures its vibrant, diverse art scene. Featured artists include Pierre Malphettes, who sculpts materials into pacified nature forms like glass clouds and steel lace; Lionel Scoccimaro, who creates large customized jars housing twisted canes topped with voodoo skulls; Marie Bovo, who photographs sky portions like Roman augurs; and Frédéric Clavère, who paints strange scenes with masked men and Nazis in hellfire. Others include Gilles Barbier, Yazid Oulab, and Gérard Traquandi, all photographed in their studios by Bruno Suet. A text by Frédéric Valabrègue introduces this collective view of the "planet Mars" scene. The book was reviewed by Richard Leydier.