Jean Bedez
Born in 1976
Lives and works in Paris
The work of young French artist Jean Bedez (born 1976, graduated Ecole
des Beaux-Arts, Paris) addresses the dominant cultures of power, of
games and of spectacle. His first solo exhibition, entitled Citizen
Corps (March 21 - April 28 at La Blanchisserie gallery), presents an
ensemble of works concerning the place and role of the citizen.
Alternatively spectator and actor of history in the making, the artist
questions the forms of representation of power, as well as the modes
of expression used by political or electoral bodies.
Referencing Art History's treatment of historical scenes, the series
Collection: Leaders (2007) represents members of the G8 at the Evian
summit of 2003. The artist portrays the meeting of leaders of the
world's most powerful countries in monumental drawings realized in
lead pencil. Whether "staged" group settings (Collection: Leaders,
drawing 01) or face to face representations (Collection: Leaders,
drawing 02), the characters' heads disappear in favor of the "Marque
Repe're" logo, a symbol developed by an hypermarket chain. The logo,
which takes the form of a target, is stamped upon members of the G8.
In echo to this series, the American and Iraqi flags formalized in the
works American Dream and Iraqi Dream (2007) also point to the idea of
the target, as Bedez has chose to replace the official representation
of stars by Shuriken, Japanese blade weapons traditionally used in the
martial arts.
In the Emerge series, the artist also decides to reduce the petroleum
wars ruling our industrial economy to the state of a scale model. Oil
platforms and military submarines appear in these installations as so
many elements in a naval battle.
Finally, his Referendum piece (2007) refers to, in a paradoxal manner,
the participative role of the citizen. Citizens are invited to take
part in a decision making process by utilizing ballots that the artist
has encased in glass. In case of extreme urgency, a double tipped
hammer permits each of us to respond to his or her right to vote.
Beyond the political questions approached by Jean Bedez, the artist
attempts, as expressed by Vincent Honore', to analyze the interaction
and similarities between the questions of power, games and spectacle.
"The game becomes manipulation, spectacle is power and, in the end,
power is a game."
Copyright The work of young French artist Jean Bedez (born 1976,
graduated Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris) addresses the dominant cultures
of power, of games and of spectacle. His first solo exhibition,
entitled Citizen Corps (March 21 - April 28 at La Blanchisserie
gallery), presents an ensemble of works concerning the place and role
of the citizen. Alternatively spectator and actor of history in the
making, the artist questions the forms of representation of power, as
well as the modes of expression used by political or electoral bodies.
Referencing Art History's treatment of historical scenes, the series
Collection: Leaders (2007) represents members of the G8 at the Evian
summit of 2003. The artist portrays the meeting of leaders of the
world's most powerful countries in monumental drawings realized in
lead pencil. Whether "staged" group settings (Collection: Leaders,
drawing 01) or face to face representations (Collection: Leaders,
drawing 02), the characters' heads disappear in favor of the "Marque
Repe're" logo, a symbol developed by an hypermarket chain. The logo,
which takes the form of a target, is stamped upon members of the G8.
In echo to this series, the American and Iraqi flags formalized in the
works American Dream and Iraqi Dream (2007) also point to the idea of
the target, as Bedez has chose to replace the official representation
of stars by Shuriken, Japanese blade weapons traditionally used in the
martial arts.
In the Emerge series, the artist also decides to reduce the petroleum
wars ruling our industrial economy to the state of a scale model. Oil
platforms and military submarines appear in these installations as so
many elements in a naval battle.
Finally, his Referendum piece (2007) refers to, in a paradoxal manner,
the participative role of the citizen. Citizens are invited to take
part in a decision making process by utilizing ballots that the artist
has encased in glass. In case of extreme urgency, a double tipped
hammer permits each of us to respond to his or her right to vote.
Beyond the political questions approached by Jean Bedez, the artist
attempts, as expressed by Vincent Honore', to analyze the interaction
and similarities between the questions of power, games and spectacle.
"The game becomes manipulation, spectacle is power and, in the end,
power is a game."
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2008 'L'union fait la force', Observatoire maison Grégoire, Bruxelles
2007 'Citizen Corps', La Blanchisserie galerie, Boulogne
2006 'Pocket Monster / Ange Bleu' (cur. Valérie Sandoz), MLIS, Villeurbanne
Selected Group Exhibitions
2008 'Vente aux enchères au profit de La Source', Palais de tokyo, Paris
2007 'Armageddon', La générale en manufacture, Sèvres
2006 'Guet Apens' (cur. Stéphane Thidet), Galerie la Générale, Paris
2005 'Acid Rain' (cur. Vincent Honoré), Glassbox et Galerie Michel Rein, Paris
2004 'Asie Expo', 10ème Festival Cinéma et Cultures d'Asie, Université Lyon III
Copyright La Blanchisserie Galerie, Boulogne
Shown by
La Blanchisserie Galerie, Paris
Lives and works in Paris
The work of young French artist Jean Bedez (born 1976, graduated Ecole
des Beaux-Arts, Paris) addresses the dominant cultures of power, of
games and of spectacle. His first solo exhibition, entitled Citizen
Corps (March 21 - April 28 at La Blanchisserie gallery), presents an
ensemble of works concerning the place and role of the citizen.
Alternatively spectator and actor of history in the making, the artist
questions the forms of representation of power, as well as the modes
of expression used by political or electoral bodies.
Referencing Art History's treatment of historical scenes, the series
Collection: Leaders (2007) represents members of the G8 at the Evian
summit of 2003. The artist portrays the meeting of leaders of the
world's most powerful countries in monumental drawings realized in
lead pencil. Whether "staged" group settings (Collection: Leaders,
drawing 01) or face to face representations (Collection: Leaders,
drawing 02), the characters' heads disappear in favor of the "Marque
Repe're" logo, a symbol developed by an hypermarket chain. The logo,
which takes the form of a target, is stamped upon members of the G8.
In echo to this series, the American and Iraqi flags formalized in the
works American Dream and Iraqi Dream (2007) also point to the idea of
the target, as Bedez has chose to replace the official representation
of stars by Shuriken, Japanese blade weapons traditionally used in the
martial arts.
In the Emerge series, the artist also decides to reduce the petroleum
wars ruling our industrial economy to the state of a scale model. Oil
platforms and military submarines appear in these installations as so
many elements in a naval battle.
Finally, his Referendum piece (2007) refers to, in a paradoxal manner,
the participative role of the citizen. Citizens are invited to take
part in a decision making process by utilizing ballots that the artist
has encased in glass. In case of extreme urgency, a double tipped
hammer permits each of us to respond to his or her right to vote.
Beyond the political questions approached by Jean Bedez, the artist
attempts, as expressed by Vincent Honore', to analyze the interaction
and similarities between the questions of power, games and spectacle.
"The game becomes manipulation, spectacle is power and, in the end,
power is a game."
Copyright The work of young French artist Jean Bedez (born 1976,
graduated Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris) addresses the dominant cultures
of power, of games and of spectacle. His first solo exhibition,
entitled Citizen Corps (March 21 - April 28 at La Blanchisserie
gallery), presents an ensemble of works concerning the place and role
of the citizen. Alternatively spectator and actor of history in the
making, the artist questions the forms of representation of power, as
well as the modes of expression used by political or electoral bodies.
Referencing Art History's treatment of historical scenes, the series
Collection: Leaders (2007) represents members of the G8 at the Evian
summit of 2003. The artist portrays the meeting of leaders of the
world's most powerful countries in monumental drawings realized in
lead pencil. Whether "staged" group settings (Collection: Leaders,
drawing 01) or face to face representations (Collection: Leaders,
drawing 02), the characters' heads disappear in favor of the "Marque
Repe're" logo, a symbol developed by an hypermarket chain. The logo,
which takes the form of a target, is stamped upon members of the G8.
In echo to this series, the American and Iraqi flags formalized in the
works American Dream and Iraqi Dream (2007) also point to the idea of
the target, as Bedez has chose to replace the official representation
of stars by Shuriken, Japanese blade weapons traditionally used in the
martial arts.
In the Emerge series, the artist also decides to reduce the petroleum
wars ruling our industrial economy to the state of a scale model. Oil
platforms and military submarines appear in these installations as so
many elements in a naval battle.
Finally, his Referendum piece (2007) refers to, in a paradoxal manner,
the participative role of the citizen. Citizens are invited to take
part in a decision making process by utilizing ballots that the artist
has encased in glass. In case of extreme urgency, a double tipped
hammer permits each of us to respond to his or her right to vote.
Beyond the political questions approached by Jean Bedez, the artist
attempts, as expressed by Vincent Honore', to analyze the interaction
and similarities between the questions of power, games and spectacle.
"The game becomes manipulation, spectacle is power and, in the end,
power is a game."
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2008 'L'union fait la force', Observatoire maison Grégoire, Bruxelles
2007 'Citizen Corps', La Blanchisserie galerie, Boulogne
2006 'Pocket Monster / Ange Bleu' (cur. Valérie Sandoz), MLIS, Villeurbanne
Selected Group Exhibitions
2008 'Vente aux enchères au profit de La Source', Palais de tokyo, Paris
2007 'Armageddon', La générale en manufacture, Sèvres
2006 'Guet Apens' (cur. Stéphane Thidet), Galerie la Générale, Paris
2005 'Acid Rain' (cur. Vincent Honoré), Glassbox et Galerie Michel Rein, Paris
2004 'Asie Expo', 10ème Festival Cinéma et Cultures d'Asie, Université Lyon III
Copyright La Blanchisserie Galerie, Boulogne
Shown by
La Blanchisserie Galerie, Paris
