Sensibility out of space
While in residency at the Château de Sacy, Cyril Lepetit has developed a new body of work following his research in displacement, desire and space sensibility.
Lepetit guides his audience through a journey. A ‘mise-en-scène’ of clues leads to an open and infinite game of hide and seek with the artist’s work.
An image, icon, symbol: the lettuce is reproduced, duplicated, copied. A tautological gesture, central in the exploration of the subject/object, is displaced, replaced and misplaced. The reproduction becomes obsessive, meticulous; versions of the same appear and disappear - Which one is the original?
Nature and artifice, outside and inside, merge together in a constellation of medium and matter - neon light, painting, drawing, plaster... Desire emerges as essential in Lepetit’s work, a seductive and true sentiment. Eagerness and fascination, not in a poetic sense but within the search of nature, are at the essence of human beings. Desire is suggested in hints at the encounter of the work.
The artist uses a rhythm in three different times, three colours that punctuate the audience’s journey through the residency, developing a space sensibility - a full circle is made, referring to the play on colours from the film Blue by Derek Jarman (1993) where the eye is misled by the narrative.
Lepetit links histories from a place to an object - an image that transforms and morphs within a location and becomes a memento. He displaces with brio a common imagery to an uncommon area and state, to create a shared sensitive story.
Anne Duffau
Excerpts from a conversation between Cyril Lepetit and Guy Brett, on his exhibition “Planning”, Danielle Arnaud Gallery, London, 2010
I’ve been aware of Cyril’s work since he came to London. I met him in two contexts: one is his own work which is challenging and every time different, you know, he has never settled into a style or subject matter or anything that can be falling into a habit. And the other thing I realised is he’s been very supportive of other artists, facilitating them to make exhibitions through his organisation which is called International Exhibitionist.
I really like this exhibition a lot and I mean kind of instinctively, I didn’t immediately have explanations for what I was feeling, it had a strong impact on me. I didn’t know what to expect. So one enters the exhibition completely ready for anything and having seen it I thought you were doing something particularly
interesting which was to preserve this as a home – it still has a lot of traits of a home rather than an art gallery – and at the same time it’s an extremely artificial and well-constructed installation. And actually there do remain one or two mysteries for me – by the way, being mystified is a pleasure, I mean it’s not a problem – I was kind of mystified by the role of those rather exquisite small paintings which are part of the installation.
Well, another mysterious thing was that there was an ambiguity about what belonged to the house and what belonged to your show…
Cyril Lepetit
Cyril Lepetit uses various media in his work, including drawing, painting, digital photography, sculpture, sound, installation and performance.
Born in Cherbourg in 1970, he studied at Ulster College of Art in Belfast (1993), and obtained his Masters at the Caen Ecole des Beaux-arts in 1995. He then lived in Paris until 1998.
Following stays in Taiwan and Japan, he moved to London in 2000 where he now lives and works, exhibiting his work in the United Kingdom and around the world.
E-mail:
lepetit.cyril@international-exhibitionist.org
Web:
cyril-lepetit.com
Solo Exhibitions
2014
M:otif
(curated by Anne Duffau, A-Z Project), Enclave Deptford, London
2010
Planning
Danielle Arnaud Contemporary Art, London
2008
Technotrans
(curated by La Valise), Salon du Transport Routier, Labeaujoire, Nantes
2007
Studio visit
, Curzon Soho Cinema, London
untitled personal exhibition, E:vent Gallery, Bethnal Green, London
2006
Moving in Architecture
(Artist’s Studio), Camden Arts Centre, London
2005
Naïve exhibition
(curated by Andre Stitt), Trace Gallery, Cardiff
2004
Respectful Infidelity
(curated by Gilles Forest), Wharf, CAC Basse-Normandie
Prémice
Galerie de l’école supérieure d’arts & médias de Caen/Cherbourg
2002
Haloua-Sweets
(curated by Mai Ghoussoub & David Medalla), Kufa Gallery, Westbourne Grove, London Biennale
1999
Made in Taiwan
(curated by Liu-Yung Hao), Whashang-Art-District, Taipei, Taiwan
1997
Pulsion Partielle
(curated by Sylvie Zavatta), FRAC Basse-Normandie, Caen
1996
UP
(curated by Yveline Lecuyer), Galerie des enfants, Artécole, Hérouville Saint-Clair
Group exhibitions, video screenings & performance (selected)
2013
GriGri
(curated by Katia Feltrin), Atelier des Vertus, Paris
2012
Compounds of a Prism
(curated by Adam Nankervis), Another Vacant Space, Berlin, Germany
Art After Love
(curated by Dean Kenning), Contemporary Art Research Centre, Kingston University, London
2011
Bandits-Mages
International selection (curated by Jean-Pascal Vial), Théâtre Jacques Coeur, Bourges
I Can’t Live On Vitriol Alone!
(curated by Cecilia Wee), Live Art Development Agency, London
Sold Out
(curated by Dej Fabic), Elastic Residency, London
2009
Coalesce: Happenstance
(curated by Paul O’Neill), Smart Project Space, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2008
Coyotte Pizza
, La Valise, Nantes
The Wharf Road Project
(curated by Colm Laly), V22 & E:vent Gallery, The Wenlock Building, London
Le temps retrouvé
(Homage to Marcel Proust; curated by Pierre-Stéphane Proust), Grand Hôtel de Cabourg
Art Pie international
(curated by Yu-Chen Wang), Kunstvlaai Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Seduced: Sex and Art from Antiquity to Now
(Quickie programme curated by Christine Stewart), Barbican Art Gallery, London
2007
Blurrr
(curated by Sergio Edelsztein) Tel Aviv Center for Contemporary Art, Israel
Dimensija 0.99
(curated by Linas Liandzbergis), Tauro Kalnas, Dimensija & CCA Vilnius, Lithuania
Two Hopes
(curated by Andro Semeiko), Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, Georgia
Un R_ en commun
(curated by Laurent Moriceau), Galerie RDV, Nantes
2006
Centrefold & We have Lost Our Soul and Mind
(curated by Reza Aramesh), Zoo Art Fair, London (Tate collection)
Du Mayrau
(curated by Martin Zet), Museum Mayrau, Kladno, Czech Republic
+ si affinité
(curated by Pascal Pique & Patrick Tarres), Afiac & Les Abattoirs, Toulouse
Free play
(curated by Kjetel Bjorheim), Hå Gamle Prestegard, Contemporary Art Centre, Stavanger, Norway
Metropolis Rise: New Art from London
(curated by Temporary Contemporary), Dashanzi, Beijing, China
International Art Festival (DIAF), 798 Space, Beijing & Design Center, Shanghai, China
TRACE archive [2000-2005]
(curated by Andre Stitt), Franklin Furnace, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Daily Noise
(curated by Vibrö), LeRoy Neiman Gallery, Columbia University, New York, USA
2005
London in Six Easy Steps: Part 4
(curated by Guy Brett & David Medalla), ICA, London
2004
Rencontre International d’Art Performance, Le Lieu, Centre Art Actuel, Quebec, Canada
Insula Ovinium A Journey to the Isle of Sheppey (Island of sheep)
, Rockhouse Gallery, Isle of Sheppey, Kent
2003
Oxymory
(curated by Joel Hubaut & Sylvie Froux), FRAC Basse-Normandie, Caen
Là-Bas
(curated by Irma Optimist), Taidehalli Museum, Kunsthalle Helsinki, Finland
2002
Arte in Transito
, Centro Nazionale di Drammaturgia (curated by Alfio Petrini), Rome, Italy
The Burger King Exhibition
(curated by Antoine Catala), Burger King Whitechapel, London
2001
Sculpture Génétique
(curated by Jacques Lizène), Art Concept Gallery, Paris
Polysonneries
(curated by Sylvie Ferre), Les Subsistances, Centre d’art contemporain, Lyon
Art Action Actuel
(curated by FA3), Studio 303, Montreal, Canada
2000
Fictionary
(curated by Sandra Patron), Triangle France, Marseille & 3015 Paris
1999
NIPAF (Nippon International Performance Art Festival), Kid Ailack Hall, Meidaimae, Tokyo, Japan
1998
Hommage à l’Objet-Dard
(curated by Stéphane Moraux), Espace Volga, Paris
1995
Groomets show
(curated by Jean Dupuy), Parc de Vincennes, Paris
1994
Conference on the Move
(curated by Karen L Vaughan & Susan Philipsz), Catalyst Art Gallery, Belfast
Essen
(curated by Bob Lens), Gallery Cornelius Hertz, Bremen, Germany
1993
Polyphonix 27: Souvenir du XXème siècle
(curated by Joel Hubaut & JJ Lebel), Centre Culturel Hippolyte Mars, Cherbourg
Artist’s Books
2014
M:otif
. Published by A-Z (Anne Duffau),
http://shop.tenderbooks.co.uk/products/m-otif
2004
Cyril Lepetit: Respectful Infidelity
, 250 pages, colour, French & English. Published by Frac & Wharf centre d’art contemporain de Basse-Normandie. Texts by David Medalla, Arnaud Labelle-Rojoux, Pierre Giquel, Liu-Yung Hao. ISBN 2-909127-37-0.
http://www.frac-bn.org/publications.htm
Publications (selected)
www.international-exhibitionist.org/cyril-lepetit/texts_press/index.html
2014
Day of The Nones
, Anne Duffau, A—-Z
2013
E:vent Archive and Related Material 2003-2011
, Ed. Colm Lally
2012
Wharf: Catalogue 10 ans d’activité
, Centre d’Art contemporain Normandie
Sexes à bras le corps
, Inter Art Actuel (Canada), Special Edition
2010
Recorded discussion by Tony Grisoni with art critic Guy Brett on the exhibition
Planning
2008
Coyotte Pizza
, published by La Valise (DRAC Pays de La Loire), text by Pierre Giquel & Fred Emprou
Elusive
, published by Basement art project, text by Alasdair Duncan
Discussion on own practice with artist Flavia Muller Medeiros, IUAV Venice
2007
+ Si affinité
, published by Afiac et les Abattoirs Toulouse, text by Pascal Pique
60
, published by Centre National des Arts Plastiques, text by Christophe Donimo & Leonor Nuridsany
2006
Metropolis Rise: New art from London
, published by Article Press
Trace Installation Artspace
, published by Seren Books, text by Jimmie Durham, André Stitt & Heike Roms
Doc(k)s Nature
, published by Akenaton, Centre National des Lettres de Corse
2004
L’acte pour l’art
by Arnaud Labelle-Rojoux, published by Editions Al Dante
Rencontre internationale d’art performance
, published by Inter editeur, texts by Sonia Pelletier & Richard Martel
2002
The Burger King Exhibition
by Antoine Catala, published by London Guildhall University
FIX02, Performing the City
, published by Catalyst Arts Gallery, texts by Helen Sharp and Brian Patterson
2000
Fictionary
, published by Triangle France, text by Sandra Patron
NIPAF 2000
, published by NIPAF, The Japan Foundation & Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for Art and History, text by Seiji Shimoda
Made in Taiwan
, published by Washang Art District and Y2K, text by Liu-Yung Hao
Education
1995
Masters in Fine Art, École supérieure d’arts & médias de Caen/Cherbourg (Félicitations du Jury - Gerome Delormas, Pierre Giquel & Philippe Boutibone).
1993
Ulster College of Art, Belfast (Erasmus)
