Subtiles élégances at La Galerie, Noisy-le-Sec

La Galerie in Noisy-le-Sec presents 'Subtiles élégances', an exhibition curated by Hélène Chouteau and Julien Fronsac, running from December 7, 2002 to February 1, 2003. This marks the first time the director has invited a co-curator. The exhibition explores the subtle boundaries of hanging and staging artworks. Gray tones on certain walls transform the space into an echo chamber for appreciating light contrasts in the works. George Dupin's photographs document chic boutiques of Issey Miyake and Yves Saint Laurent, playing on art's appropriation by marketing. Haegue Yang's sculptures and Karina Bisch's paintings balance formal propositions with temporal actions by Santiago Reyes and Ben Kinmont. Reyes' 'Villes' series repeats the same scenario in Paris (2000), Rotterdam (2001), Noisy-le-Sec (2002), Milan (2001), and Sète (2002). Ben Kinmont's 'Congratulations' involves sending a bouquet to the curator. Reyes, an artist-in-residence at Noisy, reenacts Gertrude Stein's 'A Rose is A Rose is A Rose' with photographs of roses and a sung version. His 'Divan-piédestal de la salle d’attente d’hier (France)' (2001) presents three national newspapers from the previous day. Karina Bisch's paintings, such as 'Noisy(02-4-0)' (2000) and series 'Memory' and 'City' (2002), refuse the abstraction/gesture dichotomy, described by Chouteau as 'a living practice of painting'. The exhibition is a risk for both artists and organizers.