Artgenève

Seton Smith has taken many photographs of museum interiors. In Orange Ground With Plate, it is archaeological elements located in Italy that interest the artist. This piece of art is typical of her work and takes the opposite stance of museum photographs traditionally focused on the promotion of artworks. Manipulating blurring focus and close perspective, the artist produces an image close to a monochrome which dismantles customary structures. We cannot embrace what is pictured and the artwork’s main stake is not the object in itself but the sentiment extracted from its shot. She confronts the viewer to its own representation and questions the notion of space and artwork integrated in the museum.

Exhibition:
- Second Mark, Galerie Sisso, Paris, 18th september- 27 October 2015

Each Diagram offers the story of a selected dream made by the artist, realised on a notebook page. By removing the ribbon from a typewriter, the paper has been carved to create the letters and the words which make these scripts visible for our eyes.

Exhibitions:
- Le souvenir des pierres, Galerie Anne-Sarah Bénichou, 2016
- Territoire Hopi, Galerie Ygrec, Paris, 2015-2016

Diagramme n° 070412-080412 "Papier calque"

Je suis dans un magasin de fournitures de
beaux-arts. Je cherche du papier, du papier
calque. Je ne sais pas lequel choisir et demande
toutes sortes de références à la vendeuse. Je
finis par en acheter de plusieurs sortes.

Une fois sorti du magasin je me retrouve dans une
école primaire désertée. Je sors une feuille
transparente et la tiens à bout de bras devant
moi. C’est en fait une caméra, une surface
photosensible à travers laquelle je regarde et
filme en même temps la cour, les salles.
J’effectue des mouvements très lents et flottants,
tout en regardant à travers la feuille.
Au détour d'un couloir je découvre des photos de
classes punaisées au mur. Je suis présent sur
plusieurs d'entre elles, je dois avoir autour de
5 ou 6 ans.

Je comprends alors que la feuille de calque est
ce qui permet de filmer mon passé.

Each Diagram offers the story of a selected dream made by the artist, realised on a notebook page. By removing the ribbon from a typewriter, the paper has been carved to create the letters and the words which make these scripts visible for our eyes.

Diagramme n°200706-210706 -  "Paris et la montagne"

Un énorme massif montagneux domine Paris.

En fait c’est un pays.

On peut apercevoir des sommets, les principaux monuments de Paris; la place de la Concorde, l’Arc de Triomphe.

Les plus hautes montagnes, alignées en enfilade, sont toutes blanches mais elles ne sont pas recouvertes de neige. On dirait de la craie.

Ce pays mystérieux ne compte pas d’habitants, personne n’y vit. Il a pourtant une capitale mais on on ne sait jamais où elle se trouve. Elle change sans cesse de place.

En fait elle est immatérielle.

A thousand Mississippi series is based on elevation datas, in other words topography. They show real areas of the Mississippi valley, from which we can observe the infinite curves and former bends. Thanks to a subtil color grading, the picture reveals the former paths of the river, engraved in the ground of the valley.

Exhibition: 
- Le souvenir des pierres, Galerie Anne-Sarah Bénichou, Paris, France, 21st May- 23rd July 2016

Grandmas est une série de dessins inspirés d’étiquettes de produits dont la marque se  rapporte à un membre de la famille.  C’est lors d’une résidence en Californie, que Valérie Mréjen a commencé à collectionner ces étiquettes: grand-mères, oncles, tantes, c’est toute une “famille recomposée” que l’on retrouve dans ces dessins nostalgiques, comme autant de chaleureux fantômes.

Grandmas est une série de dessins inspirés d’étiquettes de produits dont la marque se  rapporte à un membre de la famille.  C’est lors d’une résidence en Californie, que Valérie Mréjen a commencé à collectionner ces étiquettes: grand-mères, oncles, tantes, c’est toute une “famille recomposée” que l’on retrouve dans ces dessins nostalgiques, comme autant de chaleureux fantômes.

Exhibition:
- L'oeil musical, Galerie Natalie Seroussi, Paris, France

Exhibition :
- L'air vibre du bourdonnement des insectes, Musée départemental d'art contemporain de Rochechouart, 07th October - 17th December, Rochechouart, France

Exhibition :
- L'air vibre du bourdonnement des insectes, Musée départemental d'art contemporain, de Rochechouart, 07th October - 17th December, Rochechouart, France

Each Diagram offers the story of a selected dream made by the artist, realised on a notebook page. By removing the ribbon from a typewriter, the paper has been carved to create the letters and the words which make these scripts visible for our eyes.

Exhibition:
-Entre deux infinis, Galerie Anne-Sarah Bénichou, Paris, France, 2017

Diagramme n°020208-030208 - "Histoire de l'univers"

Noir. Un flash aveuglant. C?est le big bang.
Les images défilent comme devant un film documentaire. L?histoire de l?Univers défile sous mes yeux en accéléré; la formation des premières étoiles, des galaxies, des planètes, du système solaire. Le temps s?écoule à toute vitesse.

La Terre est maintenant visible, les continents se déplacent. Nous approchons.?Comme vu d?un satellite on apercoit l?Europe, puis la Suisse, puis le Lac Léman. Le zoom se poursuit, de plus en plus rapide.

Nous voici dans la salle des commandes du CERN, à Genève, en 2009. Tous les scientifiques et les physiciens sont réunis pour procéder au lancement du grand accélérateur de particules. Le décompte est lancé, 10...9...8...

Tous les regards se portent vers les écrans de contrôle, la tension est palpable.

6...5...4...

L?opérateur s?apprête à appuyer sur le bouton, ...1...0.

Il appuie.

Noir. Un flash aveuglant. C?est le big bang.

Each Diagram offers the story of a selected dream made by the artist, realised on a notebook page. By removing the ribbon from a typewriter, the paper has been carved to create the letters and the words which make these scripts visible for our eyes.

Diagramme n°190812-200812 - "Philippe Parreno"

Je rencontre Philippe Parreno. Il me parle de ses films.
À un moment donné il dit que dans ses films il cherche à se passer de musique. Je lui dis que dans ses films il cherche même à se passer d'images. Il se retourne et me dit que la question est très vaste, que ce n'est pas le bon moment pour en parler.
On en discutera plus tard.

Seton Smith has taken many photographs of museum interiors. In Blue Ground With Stone, it is archaeological elements located in Italy that interest the artist. This piece of art is typical of her work and takes the opposite stance of museum photographs traditionally focused on the promotion of artworks. Manipulating blurring focus and close perspective, the artist produces an image close to a monochrome which dismantles customary structures. We cannot embrace what is pictured and the artwork’s main stake is not the object in itself but the sentiment extracted from its shot. She confronts the viewer to its own representation and questions the notion of space and artwork integrated in the museum.

Since 2012, Seton Smith has begun taking photographs of houses in different areas within the United States. Using black and white, and increasing focus sharpness, she slightly modifies her photography technique to produce works in the continuity of her endeavour to decode elements of power in architecture.
According to her, houses and more generally architecture shape individuals. Conversely, buildings, private housing or public institutions embody fragments of life's marks and memories of human existence. 
In these large series of photographs, conceptualised as a road-trip across the American territory, it is all the individual and global history of the country which is elucidated and which can be felt in relation to these solitary houses.

Since 2012, Seton Smith has begun taking photographs of houses in different areas within the United States. Using black and white, and increasing focus sharpness, she slightly modifies her photography technique to produce works in the continuity of her endeavour to decode elements of power in architecture.
According to her, houses and more generally architecture shape individuals. Conversely, buildings, private housing or public institutions embody fragments of life’s marks and memories of human existence. 
In these large series of photographs, conceptualised as a road-trip across the American territory, it is all the individual and global history of the country which is elucidated and which can be felt in relation to these solitary houses.

In Russian Geisha, Florin Stefan manipulates themes that are dear to him: The female nude and the reinterpretation of classic pictorial scenes. Here, one can recognize a revisiting of the Déjeuner sur l'herbe with a resolutely modern touch and staging. As often with Florin Stefan, the subject matter ultimately takes a back seat. The eye is drawn to the painting itself, in this case, the still life with the plastic bottle in the foreground or the large kitschy floral tapestry that serves as a backdrop.

In these drawings, Chourouk Hriech represents a divided world in which she tries to bring consistency. The artist suggests an encounter between nature and urban landscapes through a play on different perspectives. She emphasizes the contrast between the distinct lines of architecture and the generous vegetation. Hence, the black lines, similar to trajectories, try to organise the space and link the artworks together.

In these drawings, Chourouk Hriech represents a divided world in which she tries to bring consistency. The artist suggests an encounter between nature and urban landscapes through a play on different perspectives. She emphasizes the contrast between the distinct lines of architecture and the generous vegetation. Hence, the black lines, similar to trajectories, try to organise the space and link the artworks together.

In Dehors #1, Chourouk Hriech emphasizes on the details of a building. She plays on the shadows and the patterns to attract the viewer's eyes on a contrast: the walls comprise vegetal ornaments, and vegetation grows on the roof.

Exhibition:
- Le souvenir des pierres, Galerie Anne-Sarah Bénichou, Paris, 21st May-16th juiy 2016
- Loin des yeux, Centre d'art contemporain de Montréal, du 16 avril au 11 juin 2016

A thousand Mississippi series is based on elevation datas, in other words topography. They show real areas of the Mississippi valley, from which we can observe the infinite curves and former bends. Thanks to a subtil color grading, the picture reveals the former paths of the river, engraved in the ground of the valley.

Exhibitions:
- L'air vibre du bourdonnement des insectes, Musée départemental d'art contemporain  de Rochechouart, 7th october- 17th December, Rochechouart, France
- Le Souvenir des pierres, Galerie Anne-Sarah Bénichou, 21th May-  23rd July 2016, Paris, France