The Musée de la Poste exhibition "Claude Viallat - Postal Canvases" (from 24 September 2007 to 22 February 2008) presents a collection of works by the Nîmes-based artist produced during his two collaborations with La Poste in 2005 and 2006. Of particular note are a series of 20 acrylic paintings on mail bags and the artwork for the postage stamp issued in 2006 to honour the artist.
"The postal service is the link between people, it represents writing and relationships with friends to whom one writes. There is a very emotional aspect (…)," explains Claude Viallat, who is "very proud that La Poste asked [him to design a stamp]."
A founding member of the Supports/Surfaces movement in 1970, the artist is famous for challenging traditional materials. Steeped in the corrida traditions of his childhood in the Gard region and accustomed to working on the bull-fighting theme, Viallat painted the artwork for the stamp on a bright pink toreador’s cape. The designs are green. But the artist had his work cut out for him this time as the definitive support was to be a small bit of paper not more than a few cm2, whereas the original work measured over two meters. In keeping with the wishes of Claude Viallat, La Poste did not add a white border and the image reproduced in this way seems to extend infinitely beyond the stamp’s lace-like edges.
For the 20 sacks on display, the original artwork and the various projects, Claude Viallat explores his signature motif, a product of chance that dates to 1966. It consists of an oblong shape that is neither
figurative nor geometric, which he repeats in a series using a stencil. It is a restrictive starting point that subsequently gives free reign to unlimited creative possibilities because it can be infinitely redesigned. He works with this shape, reproducing it in every work on media that are always
different—bits of scrap fabric, tarps, etc.—but that are always used in their found state, untreated.
When it comes to colours, he chooses them instinctively, with no symbolic references. The unpredictable properties of the material influence the application of colour. According to the artist,
"the way the colour reacts with the support is very important. Every time there is this work by the support, then the colour is worked by the support." An unexpected result, the absence of desire for a
specific result and a certain sensuality in the technique are integral aspects of the work.
"My work always starts with the notion that I do not make mistakes, I do not want to make mistakes, that is, everything must be right. I accept everything. I cannot make a mistake because I expect
nothing, I want nothing; I apply things and I teach myself to accept them as they are" (comments made by Claude Viallat on 23 May 2007).
Here again, Claude Viallat will handle the task of hanging his canvases. He will develop his own logic, launching a new dialogue between the works and creating a network of intentions specific to the
gallery rooms at the Musée de la Poste.
A catalogue of the exhibition is being published; it will contain reproductions of all the works (available on 20 September 2007).
Workshops are being held to coincide with the exhibition (exhibition visit and creation of a sheet of stencilled stationery).
34 Bd de Vaugirard – 75015 PARIS
Tel: 01 42 79 24 24
Nearest Metro station: Montparnasse Bienvenüe
Open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm
Closed Sundays and bank holidays
Admission: 5.00 Reduced rate: 3.50
Free for visitors under the age of 18
Marie-Anne TEULAT
marie-anne.teulat@laposte.fr
Tel: 01 42 79 23 29
Fax: 01 42 79 24 00
www.museedelaposte.fr
Emilie BERNARD
emilie.bernard@laposte.fr
Tel: 01 42 79 23 39
Contact Galerie Philippe Pannetier (Nîmes)
Tel: 04 66 36 03 11
contact@galerielibrairie-pannetier.com
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