For its first on-line exhibition, the website ARTSPER has given carte blanche to the former French Minister of culture and communication Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres and to a young curator Marie Duffour, communication manager at Communic’Art. Together, they proposed an exhibition called “Sang Neuf”, exploring the theme of the quotations and borrowings in the contemporary artistic production. From the simple quotation to the affective satire, from the pastiche to the assumed borrowing, the artworks shown in the exhibition offer us various paths and approaches to the art of diversion.

Artsper: Marie, you are behind the theme of this exhibition, could you tell us more about it and explain us the reasons why you have decided to explore this topic?

M.D. : The quotation is an element inside an artwork spotlighting a stylistic element from another artist who is most of the time known worldwide. I decided to work on this topic because when I was browsing through Artsper, I’ve discovered that the practice of borrowing was common among the artists exhibited on your website. It was also interesting because it did not confine myself to only one medium: I picked photos, paintings, and works on paper.

A: Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, you have suggested to show the artworks as a pair. Could you explain us your approach?

R.D.D.V : What is really fascinating me inside the artistic creation, is to know where the idea is coming from. We may imagine that for the artist or even for ourselves, brand new ideas are coming from nowhere, that they have no specific origin or source; but it is worth noting the fact that the most important points are talent and having a fresh look on already existing thematic. I found some reminiscences and contradictions inside the artworks shown on Artsper. This is the interesting point: we may totally consider that concrete artworks may be associated to an abstract artwork while spotlighting the same thematic, the same concept, and the same idea. Few years ago, I met someone who had a terrific speech while decorating someone : “ Your main objective is not to preserve but to restore the primary energy”.

A: Lately, some issues regarding author rights have risen like the wrangling between Richard Prince and Patrick Cariou. What is, in your view, the barrier that an artist must not cross and what is the difference between quotation and plagiat?

M.D. : For us the limit is really to respect the original artwork. The main interest of borrowing, is the reappropriation by the artist of the primary message through his own style, its own unique world. The artist must bring something new, a fresh look to the initial artwork.

A: How was your collaboration? What is the main learning of this dialog? How did you divide the tasks?

R.D.D.V. : We did not fight! (laughing). First of all the thematic was really interesting and we decided to spread the task of picking artworks. Each person has contributed his own particular style and feelings.

M.D. : As a first step, I send to Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres a first selection of artworks . Then he had the idea of presenting the artworks as a pair and we go deeper that the borrowing idea. It has been very stimulating to talk to each other about artworks. He has a great understanding of Art history and his valuable experience was perfect to pursue this project further.

A: If you were to keep only one artist from the exhibition, which one would it be?

R.D.D.V : I really like the Iranian artist ( Gohar Dashti) whose photos are both acting out of harmony with reality and are very topical events. She offers thanks to her unreal photos, a perfect demonstration of violence but also tenderness and poetry of this fascinating part of the Iranian culture. I would like to take my hat off to this outstanding work.

M.D. : I had several heart blows but if I had to keep only one, it would definitely be the artwork by Clement Cogitore, a young French artist represented by the Parisian gallery White Project. In his artwork We are legion, he reproduced Manet painting Luncheon on the grass  who inspired himself from Italian Renaissance artworks like Raphael or Giorgione. With We are legion, Clément Cogitore borrows Manet’s artwork giving it a completely different message, with young people wearing Anonymous mask.

PRACTICAL  : VIRTUAL EXHIBITION FROM  6th of JUNE TO 30th of JUNE ON  WWW.ARTSPER.COM