NEW YORK, NY.- Vicky David Gallery is presenting Summer Group Show until September 15, a group exhibition featuring artworks by six major post-war European artists of different generations: Ben Vautier, Arne Quinze, Jean-Pierre Raynaud, Niki de Saint Phalle, Michel Gérard and Jacques Villeglé.
Summer Group Show presents a body of work made from various mediums in the form of paintings and sculptures which are emblematic of the gallery’s guideline. Part of this exhibition explores the relationship between the artist and the materials. Whether it is the wood in Arne Quinze’s pieces, resin for Jean-Pierre Raynaud and Niki de Saint Phalle’s pieces, steel or even coffee beans that cover Michel Gérard’s "French Roast", the featured artworks are paradoxically opposed and attracted at the same time for their technical design, size and significance.
Arne Quinze uses various types of wood, even recycled wood, to explore his interest in social interaction with art. Quinze’s works are also on view this summer for the exhibition "My Secret Garden" at the Kunsthal Rotterdam (Netherlands). Jean-Pierre Raynaud’s famous pots are presented in the exhibition, including a "Golden Pot", a small replica of the 115 foot pot shown at the Centre Pompidou in Paris since 1998. Raynaud plays on the diversion of everyday objects and gives them a new dimension. Next to Jean-Pierre Raynaud’s golden pot is another artist who is also interested in the use of everyday life and objects. The New Realist artist Jacques Villeglé appropriates public displays and recycles it in the field of art through torn posters. Jacques Villeglé’s works show the artist’s exploration of the "décollage" technique. Unlike "collage" where an image is built up of all or parts of an existing image, décollage is created by cutting or tearing away pieces of the original image to create a new.
A collaboration by the Bonnie and Clyde of art is presented. "Le Champignon Magique", is a 3 meter high sculpture made by Niki de Saint Phalle whose lower part represents a man and woman positioned back to back made entirely of mirror mosaics; on the top is a metal structure designed by the Swiss artist Jean Tinguely that mechanically moves. Along with this, works by Michel Gérard will also be on display. A conceptual artist whose pieces can be found in the most important museums, Michel Gérard’s work presented in the Summer Group Show are made from eatable materials derived from the artist's awareness about global food problems and sources.
Ben Vautier’s provocative "writings" complete the exhibition bringing a fresh and humoristic tone. A collection of these "writings" were recently on display at the MoMA, showing the international popularity of Vautier’s unique style.
