Number 65, September 2004 Portraits

EN:

Pascal Grandmaison's photographic and videographic work is often defined as renewing the concept of the portrait. This text explains that the innovation of Grandmaison's portraits is situated more in the layout of his exhibitions than in the modes of representation that he uses. Some characteristics of his portraits, such as the static pose and the absence of expression in the subject's regard, correspond to definitions of the traditional portrait. On the other hand, the presentation of Grandmaison's works makes use of the specular, repetition, and empty space, creating a unique relationship between the viewer and the portrait.

EN:

In his series of self-portraits Version soft, the Moroccan artist Hicham Benohoud has metamorphosed his features by "martyrizing" his head in harsh photographs recalling those in Photomatons or mug shots. As his own model, he photographs himself as a common mannequin, which he subjects to metamorphoses that are sometimes farfetched, sometimes enigmatic, manifesting irony, violence, sadomasochism, or self-derision. As in his previous series, he questions identity through a multitude of modalities of the portrait that express, calmly and firmly, his lack of comfort with his situation, his culture, his country.

FR:

Dans sa série Sans titre (L’artiste à l’oeuvre), Klaus Scherübel présente un système paradoxal de références aux mythes et fantasmes du modernisme et aux contextes descriptifs de l’art actuel. Prendre comme point de départ le titre ou l’apparence de cette oeuvre implique déjà une participation au discours qu’elle bouleverse. Plusieurs aspects suggèrent que cette oeuvre est la célébration ironique d’une absence que le spectateur peut compléter avec son imaginaire. Un imbroglio de textes culturels se présente à nous, ne nous permettant pas de fuir en lieu sûr, malgré la réflexion offerte sur les conditions de l’oeuvre.