Sex and Decency: Erotic Art Collides with Contemporary at Parisud
Curator Pascal Vanhoecke staged a provocative exhibition at Galerie Parisud in Cachan, France, from September 22 to November 19, 2005, juxtaposing contemporary artists with those from erotic and pornographic photography. The show featured Thomas Ruff's reworked web-sourced sexual images alongside Tony Ward's large-format prints, including a woman masturbating on a 19th-century sofa. Natacha Merritt's intimate self-portraits were also displayed. Video programming included Ovidie's short film and an excerpt from her Lilith (Marc Dorcel productions), Pascal Bernier's Safe Sex (2001) depicting latex-gloved hands simulating copulation to music from Sofia Coppola's Virgin Suicides, and a selection of Richard Kern's underground films. The exhibition aimed to challenge the art world's segregation of erotic imagery, arguing that pedigree should not determine quality. A second installment, Sexe et convenances 2, was scheduled for January 4–28, 2006.
Key facts
- Exhibition titled 'Sexe et convenances' held at Galerie Parisud in Cachan, France.
- Ran from September 22 to November 19, 2005.
- Curated by Pascal Vanhoecke.
- Featured Thomas Ruff, Tony Ward, Natacha Merritt, Ovidie, Pascal Bernier, and Richard Kern.
- Included video works by Ovidie (Lilith, Marc Dorcel productions) and Pascal Bernier (Safe Sex, 2001).
- Bernier's video used music from Sofia Coppola's Virgin Suicides.
- Natacha Merritt's book Digital Diaries (Taschen) was cited as a bestseller.
- A second edition, 'Sexe et convenances 2', scheduled for January 4–28, 2006.
Entities
Artists
- Pascal Vanhoecke
- Thomas Ruff
- Tony Ward
- Natacha Merritt
- Ovidie
- Pascal Bernier
- Richard Kern
- Sofia Coppola
- Richard Leydier
Institutions
- Galerie Parisud
- Marc Dorcel
- Taschen
- artpress
Locations
- Cachan
- France
- Val-de-Marne
Sources
- artpress —