Maurizio Cattelan, "A perfect day," 1999. Colour photography, plexiglas, aluminium. Photo: Armin Linke / Courtesy, Galleria Massimo De Carlo.
Palais des Arts et du festival, Dinard
BIG BROTHER
Artists and tyrants
11 June-11 September 2011
Palais des Arts et du festival, Dinard
2, boulevard Wilson. Dinard
Building on its success and for the third consecutive year, the town of Dinard is renewing its commitment to supporting contemporary art with the exhibition Big Brother-artists and tyrants, an exhibition on the relationship of art with power, bringing together not only the biggest names in the history of contemporary art but also new players in the artistic world.
Inspired in its title by the 1984 novel by George Orwell, Big Brother turns its gaze on the balance of power between the artist and the tyrant, who face off through an astounding game of mirrors where Big Brother is both, he who is watching and he who is watched.
The exhibition follows a path which is divided into five sections based on contemporary critical thought: the Realm of Signs, The Origins of Totalitarianism, The Rebel, The Society of the Spectacle, and last but not least, Oedipus the King... a true blaze of glory ending!
It is a journey which delves into the heart of the relationship between tyrant and artist to be discovered by bringing together thirty artists from all disciplines: Adel Abdessemed, Francis Alÿs, Brigitte Aubignac, Ziad Antar, André Butzer, Zoulikha Bouabdellah, Claire Fontaine, Nathan Coley, Mircea Cantor, Maurizio Cattelan, Johan Creten, Braco Dimitrijevic, Dmitry Gutov, Kendell Geers, Jenny Holzer, Ramin Haerizadeh, Rokni Haerizadeh,William Kentridge, Käthe Kollwitz, Barbara Kruger, Claude Lévêque, Andrei Molodkin, Fahrad Moshiri, Martial Raysse, Cindy Sherman, Wilfredo Prieto, Jaan Toomik, Joana Vasconcelos, Sislej Xhafa, Yan Pei-Ming, Zhang Huan.
The artistic stewardship of this summertime rendezvous is, once again, entrusted to Ashok Adicéam, an independent curator.
Big Brother is part of Dinard Mayor Sylvie Mallet's cultural policy, which aims at proposing exhibitions that anticipate and support contemporary issues.
By virtue of its theme and the choice of works which were selected several long months ago, Big Brother in a premonitory way fits into the scheme of today's world events and develops the broader idea that "art and dictatorship both address the same emotional vector set in the heart of every man, the first to transport one for the better, the second for the worse".
Dinard, an exceptional living environment
Dinard's cultural tradition together with its artistic policy which it has followed over the past 20 years, have led it to become one of the top ten resort towns in Europe.
The "Great Exhibitions" such as the one dedicated to Picasso in 1999, have presented many artists who have drawn their inspiration from Dinard. Since 2009, a place of honour has been reserved for contemporary creations. Following the presentation of works from the François Pinault Foundation with the triumphant Who's Afraid of artists? exhibition, and echoing the exhibition focusing on hope, Hope!, the third constituent of the seaside town's summer-season exhibitions brings together with equally high artistic standards and levels of professionalism, the greatest artists in the world of art, prestigious works, well-established talents and amazing discoveries.
The Exhibition
Palais des arts et du festival
2, boulevard Wilson. Dinard
Exhibition open Tuesday to Sunday 11AM-7PM
Late Friday-9PM
Closed on Monday
Guided Tours: Every Friday, 7PM
Closing of the ticket office 30 minutes before the closing time of the Palais des Arts
Groups: upon prior reservation on +33 (0)2 99 46 50 63
Groups: may book visiting time slots +33 (0)2 99 46 50 63
Press
Heymann, Renoult Associées
Agnès Renoult, Eléonore Grau
e.grau@heymann-renoult.com
+33 (0)1 44 61 76 76 / www.heymann-renoult.com