(A New Youth)
April 5–June 23, 2024
The Contemporaine de Nîmes is pleased to present the full program of its first edition, conceived by the artistic directors Anna Labouze & Keimis Henni. It can be found at: contemporainedenimes.com
The triennial
The Contemporaine de Nîmes is a new contemporary art triennial initiated by the City of Nîmes. Every three years starting from 2024 onwards, a selection of today's art is presented across the city, revolving around a main theme. Public spaces, monuments, heritage sites, museums, cultural venues and everyday places are thus invested by established and emerging artists from all disciplines and generations. Each edition of the Contemporaine is an invitation to discover and explore contemporary creation and Nîmes in a different way, within the framework of a program that is equally ambitious, generous and accessible.
The first edition: Une Nouvelle Jeunesse (A New Youth)
The inaugural edition of the Contemporaine de Nîmes, presented from April 5 until June 23, 2024, is entitled Une nouvelle jeunesse (A New Youth) and focuses on today's youth, its concerns and relationships with preceding generations, through the concepts of heritage and transmission.
The program revolves around four main axes:
–A major multidisciplinary exhibition across the city, featuring 12 intergenerational pairs of artists in as many locations, entitled “La Fleur et la Force” (The Flower and the Strength)
–Six key events revisiting memories of childhood and youth through performing arts;
–Three houses, places for encounters and conviviality, with artists and collectives in residence;
–An associated program developed in collaboration with a dozen of Nîmes' cultural actors.
Most of the artistic projects were created specifically for the Contemporaine de Nîmes, in close relation with the local context and territory. Each project of the exhibition, events and houses includes a participatory dimension involving Nîmes inhabitants in its creation.
Exhibition: La Fleur et La Force (The Flower and the Strength)
The first Contemporaine de Nîmes program is centered around a major exhibition entitled La Fleur et la Force (The Flower and the Strength). Deployed in the form of an itinerary across the city center, it comprises twelve artistic projects in as many indoor and outdoor locations: museums, cultural venues, heritage sites, public spaces…
Each of them brings together an emerging artist and an established or historical one in an intergenerational pair, as well as a local community involved in its creation.
–June Balthazard and Suzanne Husky at the Chapelle des Jésuites, with students from the École supérieure des beaux arts de Nîmes (the city's art school)
–Aïda Bruyère and Judy Chicago at the Musée des Cultures Taurines, with students from High school Alphonse Daudet specializing in visual arts
–Neïla Czermak Ichti and Baya at the Fine Arts Museum, with students from Elementary schools Jean Macé and Marie Soboul
–Delphine Dénéréaz and Sonia Chiambretto on Avenue Feuchères (public space), with students from Junior high school Feuchères
–Alassan Diawara and Zineb Sedira at the Carré d’Art – Contemporary Art Museum and in public spaces, with local inhabitants and families
–Hugo Laporte and Katja Novitskova at Carré d’Art – Contemporary Art Museum, with young people from the École de la 2e chance
–Caroline Mesquita and Laure Prouvost on Place du Chapitre (public space), with students from kindergarten Chapitre
–Rayane Mcirdi and Virgil Vernier at Cinema Le Sémaphore, with women from the association Les 1000 Couleurs
–Valentin Noujaïm and Ali Cherri on Rue Romaine – Musée de la Romanité (public space), with students from High school Philippe Lamour specializing in cinema
–Prune Phi and SMITH at the Carré d’Art Library, with Nîmes' library network and students from Junior high school Révolution
–Jeanne Vicerial and Pierre Soulages at the Museum of Old Nîmes, with students in fashion design from High school Ernest Hemingway
–Feda Wardak and Tadashi Kawamata at the Jardins de la Fontaine (public space), with young people from the Compagnons du Devoir
Key events
Six key events from the Contemporaine de Nîmes program feature live and performing arts, revisiting memories of childhood and youth through an artistic perspective. They are divided into three major weekends of programming: the opening weekend (April 5–7), the intermediate weekend (May 24–26) and the closing weekend (June 21–23). As with the other projects of the triennial, local residents are involved in the creation of these events.
A great example of those events is “La Boum”, a giant inaugural party in the Arena of Nîmes with artist Aïda Bruyère, DJ Barbara Butch, choreographer Jacquelyn Elden, as well as students from High school Alphonse Daudet specializing in visual arts.
–“La Fugue” (The Fugue) on April 5, with Uèle Lamore and students of Nîmes' music and dance conservatory
–“La Boum” (The Party) on April 6, with Aïda Bruyère, Barbara Butch, Jacquelyn Elden, Clément LM and students from high school Alphonse Daudet specializing in visual arts
–“Le Jeu” (The Game) on May 25, with Dimitri Chamblas and 30 performers including students from the École supérieure des beaux-arts de Nîmes and Nîmes' music and dance conservatory
–“La Sortie Théâtre” (The Theater Outing) on May 25, with Ndayé Kouagou and students from high school Philippe Lamour specializing in theater studies
–“La Kermesse” (The Block Party) on June 22, with Mohamed Bourouissa, 10 young artists from the region and local structures
–“La Veillée” (The Vigil) on June 22, a nocturnal tour of the exhibition with events in local art galleries, museums and other cultural structures
Houses
The Houses of the Contemporaine are spaces for rest and conviviality, where you can take a break from your visit. Each is also home to an artist or collective in residence, working on a participatory project with local residents and structures.
–The Spot with collective Green Resistance around a project focusing on the environment.
–The Hôtel-Dieu with Nîmes s'illustre and artist Jonathan Bréchignac around a project centered on hospitality and care.
–The lobby of Carré d'Art with art collective Monstera around a project redefining the codes of domesticity.
Associated program
A dozen of Nîmes' artistic and cultural actors have been invited to present a program of exhibitions or events echoing the theme of the first Contemporaine de Nîmes, including: CACN – Contemporary Art Center, ésban – École supérieure des beaux-arts de Nîmes, Pamela Artist-run space, Cinéma Le Sémaphore, High school Alphonse Daudet, Nîmes s'illustre, Étant donné, Festival DELCO, Negpos – Photographic Art Center, Le On/Off, Bob Calle Documentary Center...
Press contacts: Agnès Renoult Communication
International press: Miliana Faranda, miliana@agnesrenoult.com
French national press: Saba Agri, saba@agnesrenoult.com
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