The exhibition of Maxime Bondu, “5 mars 1982,” recently opened at Galerie Joseph Tang in Paris on June 7, 2012.
Through a series of “conceptual jumps,” using Bondu’s words, the spectator is carried from one piece to another linked by history, artifacts and fiction. A newspaper dated 5 March 2012 is displayed in a two-way frame and chronicles the deaths of the authors who become main characters within the artworks conceptual development. A 70s era chair in olive green fabric with a similarly styled side table act as the display for the rewritten and reinterpreted book, (now oeuvre) “Germania,” rewritten by Bondu. Finally, displayed in the center of the space is a 1:35 scale concrete replica of a structure originally conceived for the Third Reich to test the resistance of the sandy soil of Berlin. The visitor, upon closer inspection of each piece, is confronted by a conceptual chronology that is tied together by the links, disconnections and fragments inherent to the installation and Maxime Bondu’s practice.
A new space in Paris, Galerie Joseph Tang is located in a small building near the Place de la République. Visitors ring a doorbell at street level to enter, traverse a small grey courtyard and walk up two flights of stairs before being welcomed by the crisp white and smartly designed interior of the gallery. Presenting the work of one artist and one installation per exhibition, the space creates an intimacy between artists/artwork and the visitor, aiming to enhance the reflection and discussion of the ideas presented.
Maxime Bondu: 5 Mars 1982 / Galerie Joseph Tang, Paris. June 7, 2012. Video by Daniel Barney.
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