french window: looking at contemporary art through the marcel duchamp prize

‘tevau’ by camille henrot mixed media photo © charles duprat / courtesy of the artist and the kamel mennour, paris

the mori art museum in tokyo japan presents ‘french window: looking at contemporary art through the marcel duchamp prize’ together with the association for the international diffusion of french art and japanese publication, the asahi shimbun. on now until july 3, 2011, the exhibition represents a decade of contemporary french art through the perspective of the private collectors who form ADIAF.

featuring the work of duchamp himself along with 28 contemporary artists who have won or been finalists for the prize, the exhibition marks 10 years for what has become one of france’s most prestigious art awards, the marcel duchamp prize. held in honor of the 20th century french artist, the award supports and promotes artists who lead the french contemporary scene.

‘the skull’ installation view ‘one’ by saâdane afif image © jonathan Boussaert / courtesy of galerie michel rein, paris

the show, whose title refers to duchamp’s well known piece ‘french window’ is comprised of five sections that together provide a comprehensive view of the contemporary french art scene. the first section, ‘duchamp’s window’ includes important examples of duchamp’s ‘ready-mades’, while the next three sections, ‘the view from the window’, ‘the window of time and space’ and ‘the window of the inner work’ showcase essential pieces of the contemporary movement through a selection of paintings, sculptures and photographs, installations and videos made by artists of diverse ages and cultural backgrounds. the fifth section ‘inside the window’ includes a full-scale recreation of a typical french collector’s apartment.

‘the skull’ by saâdane afif image © jonathan Boussaert / courtesy of galerie michel rein, paris

confronted with each artist’s diverse forms of expression – responding in original ways to themes such as everyday life, time and generic urban landscapes – the viewers are able to directly experience the atmosphere and essence of the french artistic scene, taking with them an understanding of the social, historical and cultural contexts through which the works have emerged.

‘novomond 71’ by nicolas moulincibachrome print, mounted on aluminum courtesy of galerie chez valentin, paris

‘blankludermilq 01’ by nicolas moulin photograph, diasec, mounted on aluminum courtesy of galerie chez valentin, paris