Fabienne Leclerc and gallery Air de Paris will from now on be uniquely based within the roomier environs of the Fondation Fiminco, alongside Vincent Sator and Jocelyn Wolff, all "attracted by the opportunity to be together while remaining independent", but the latter two will keep their Parisian spaces.
In the wider political context of (re)dynamising "Grand Paris", encompassing the location of the National Centre for Dance in Pantin, mega-gallery Thaddaeus Ropac, the Centre National des Arts Plastiques and the MC93 (Seine-Saint-Denis Maison de la Culture in Bobigny), the goal for the near future is to create a real gallery district, equal to the Marais or Saint-Germain-des-Près.
Komunuma, partners, October 2019 Photo: © Stephanie Füssenich Courtesy Komunuma
"It’s about time to understand what is the urban area and the perspective we have on this territory," explained Jocelyn Wolff. The Parson School of Design will also be setting up shop in Romainville, with a new campus for 50-60 students, whilst choreographer Blanca Li will also be settling her company there.
In addition, the complex will host 18 artists in residence, selected by a jury. The majority of creators will arrive from January 9 onwards. Artists awarded grants for their projects will have access to a graphics studio, a photography studio, silkscreen printing, engraving, a post-production sound/video studio, mixed practices, and a monumental 14 metre-high studio within "The Boiler Room".
Hoping to anchor themselves in a quickly gentrifying area and to add to "the betterment of the quality of life" for the 408,000 inhabitants, Komunuma is developing an "art at school" programme, hoping to hold talks and regularly open up the studios.
As for public institutions, whilst the FRAC Ile de France is staying put in Le Plateau, the institution will be able to keep its reserves in Romainville — something wished for for over 30 years — and exhibit its artworks, without going as far as organising exhibitions. Pieces from its collections will thus be on show to the public, who will be able to vote in advance. First up: Michel Blazy and his "Bar à orange".
On the programme
Air de Paris: "More", bringing together works by 40 artists, including Leonor Antunes, Trisha Donnelly, Claire Fontaine, Michel Houellebecq, Philippe Parreno, and Sarah Pucci.
Guy de Cointet, Chaise Bleue, Chaise Jaune (De toutes les couleurs, 1982), 2018 Rob Pruitt Roller Rink Coffee Table II (Fruit Bowl), 2017
Photo: © DR Courtesy the artists and Air de Paris
Jeune Création: "Nous qui désirons sans fin", brainchild of Marion Bataillard, artist, and curator of the exhibition, featuring: Ellen Akimoto, Marion Bataillard, Diane Benoit du Rey, Nicolas Blum-Ferracci, Bertrand Dezoteux, Valentina Dotti, Cécilia Granara, Alice Guittard, Johann Nöhles, Simon Pasieka, Baptiste Rabichon, Simon de Reyer, and Ariane Yadan.
Nous qui désirons sans fin (installation view) Photo: © Jeune Création, Marion Bataillard Venus, 2017 Courtesy the artist and © ADAGP, Paris, 2019 Alice Guittard caderate, 2017 Courtesy the artist Valentina Dotti iirene, 2019 Courtesy the artist
Galerie Sator: "REMPLIR LE VIDE" by Christian Gonzenbach.
Christian Gonzenbach, Hanabi, 2019 Courtesy the artist and Galerie Sator
Galerie Jocelyn Wolff: "70.001", featuring Zbyněk Baladrán, Katinka Bock, Santiago de Paoli, William Anastasi, Colette Brunschwig, Diego Bianchi, Miriam Cahn, Frédéric Moser & Philippe Schwinger, Guillaume Leblon, Isa Melsheimer, Ulrich Polster, Prinz Gholam, Hans Schabus, Elodie Seguin, Francisco Tropa, Clemens von Wedemeyer, Franz Erhard Walther and Christoph Weber.
Clemens von Wedemeyer, 70.001, 2019 (film still) Courtesy: the artist and Galerie Jocelyn Wolff, Paris
In Situ Fabienne Leclerc: "Stop", featuring performances by Laurent Tixador and semi-permanent installations by Andrea Blum and Constance Nouvel. Mark Dion will present a large-scale installation, and Rokni & Ramin Haerizadeh and Hesam Rahmanian will show a film and a new group of works on paper.
In short, lots of things to see!
