Supports/Surfaces Exhibition at Musée d’Art Moderne de Saint-Etienne Revisits French Avant-Garde Movement
At the Musée d’Art Moderne de Saint-Etienne, there’s an important exhibition put together by Bernard Ceysson that shines a light on the Supports/Surfaces group, active from 1966 to 1974. The show features twelve artists, including André-Pierre Arnal, Vincent Bioulés, and Claude Viallat, among others. Based in southern France, this group transformed the concept of painting by questioning traditional materials like canvas and stretcher. They were influenced by American Color Field painters and Marxist ideas, often showcasing their work in unconventional spaces. In 1971, internal disputes led to Viallat's removal, and the group eventually disbanded by 1974. However, a 1991 retrospective at the same museum reunited them, celebrating their impact on French art.
Key facts
- The exhibition took place at the Musée d’Art Moderne de Saint-Etienne, curated by director Bernard Ceysson.
- Supports/Surfaces was active from 1966 to 1974, involving twelve French artists.
- The group focused on deconstructing painting by examining canvas and stretcher as separate elements.
- Artists used techniques like staining, folding, and imprinting, often avoiding traditional brushes.
- Influences included American Color Field painting and Marxist theory, with references to Clement Greenberg and Mao Tse Tung.
- Outdoor exhibitions were held in locations such as Coaraze and along the French Mediterranean coast.
- Internal conflicts led to the expulsion of Claude Viallat in 1971 and the group's dissolution by 1974.
- A retrospective in 1991 at the same museum reunited the artists, highlighting the movement's coherence.
Entities
Artists
- André-Pierre Arnal
- Vincent Bioulés
- Louis Cane
- Marc Devade
- Daniel Dezeuze
- Noël Dolla
- Toni Grand
- Bernard Pagés
- Jean-Pierre Pincemin
- Patrick Saytour
- André Valensi
- Claude Viallat
- Arman
- Ben Vautier
- Kenneth Noland
- Jules Olitski
- Barnett Newman
- Morris Louis
- Henri Matisse
- Daniel Buren
- Olivier Mosset
- Michel Parmentier
- Niele Toroni
- Sean Scully
- Carl Andre
- Roland Barthes
- Louis Althusser
- Jacques Derrida
- Marcelin Pleynet
- Otto Hahn
- André Breton
- Robert Rauschenberg
Institutions
- Musée d’Art Moderne de Saint-Etienne
- Musée d’art et d’industrie de Saint-Etienne
- Musee Nationale d’Art Moderne
- Pompidou Center
- MoMA
- Grand Palais
- Daniel Templon Gallery
- Théâtre Municipal in Nice
- Venice Biennale
- ARC
- Peinture – Cahiers Théoriques
- Tel Quel
- Hard Press Editions
- artcritical
Locations
- Saint-Etienne
- France
- Lyon
- Paris
- Nice
- Grenoble
- Montpellier
- Nîmes
- Céret
- Coaraze
- Midi
- Côte d’Azur
- New York
- Lenox, MA
- Zurich
- Switzerland
- Italy
- Spain