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FOREMAN GALLERY"VALEUR/VALUE"             Journalist: Myriam Sainson

Date: January 6, 2011  Region: Sherbrooke

With a title like “Valeur/Value” , our minds go directly to our world economic situation and it takes on a more than symbolic significance when it is singular. Is there an undeniable mark of a sense of consciousness on a planetary level that can be captured on a single pedestal of art? The answer is, without a doubt, to be found somewhere within the theme of the latest exhibition presented by the Foreman Art Gallery, of Bishop’s University, from January 11 to March 17, 2012. The exhibition officially opens with a vernissage to be held on Wednesday, January 11 (5p.m. – 7 p.m.), in the company of the participating artists: Anton Vidokle & Julieta Aranda ( New York/Berlin), Cooke-Sasseville ( Québec), Antoni Muntadas (New York), Red Channels (New York) et Wochenklausur (Vienne, Autriche). Vicky Gagnon will act as Curator for this exhibition and will be on hand to welcome everyone and orchestrate a ‘Meet the Artists’ at 6 p.m.

This is an exhibition that I would classify as a documentary which casts a ''critical eye on current economic ways and how these policies are applied. Paradigns shifts have been taking place since the early nineties, these include a rapidly increasing growth in the art market, both vertically and horizontally, in terms of geographic expansion. This expanding art market has a cultural influence which is not without consequence. It seems to result fron a neoliberal ideology that has changed the power of art on the world map''. This exhibition highlights the interactions of everyday life in the politic arena, within the framework of demonstrations by pressure groups or any other intervention regarding the institutional world.

As for the artists, their personal artistic profiles tell the story of Anton Vidokle, of Russian origin, who lives in New York. With Julieta Aranda, he has organized ''a E-Flux Video Rental” which has also been seen in a number of institutions, for example, Portikus, Frankfurt and others. Julieta Aranda, of Mexican origin, divides her professional activities between New York and Berlin, depicting issues that affect the '' Traffic and the concept of the poetry of traffic''. The approaches of Cooke-Sasseville ( Jean-François Cooke and Pierre Sasseville) are related to the '' Pursuit of happiness, relationships, sexuality''. Antoni Muntadas, of Spanish origin, lives in New York and is concerned with '' Social issues, both political and in communication''. Red Channels represents a group who present shorts films across Europe and the United States. Wochenklausur is a group of artists who '' came on the scene in 1993”, working to provide solutions to social problems through art.

Information: www.foreman.ubishops.ca

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Photos courtesy of the Foreman Art Gallery