In an 18th-century maison at the foot of the Arènes in Arles, the Foundation presents the summer exhibition Persephone. It features the work of artist-designer Jeanne Vicerial and photographer Leslie Moquin, in dialogue with in situ commissioned works by artists Sylvie Auvray, Rina Banerjee and Adrien Vescovi and works from the collection.
The exhibition unveils, in an unprecedented way, Leslie Moquin’s photographs documenting the clothing compositions that Jeanne Vicerial produced during confinement while a resident of the Académie de France in Rome-Villa Medici (2019-2020). These images document often ephemeral pieces, designed every day for forty days as a sort of confinement spring / summer collection.In tandem, the exhibition showcases several clothing sculptures from the series of “Open Venuses”. Made with flowers from the gardens of the Villa Medici, they are a reinterpretation of Clemente Susini’s Venerina, an emblematic piece in the history of anatomical representation.
A summer pop-up presents a selection of ceramics by Anne Agbadou-Masson, as well as books from the Foundation and Ishtar editions.
In October 2023, the Foundation invites the Brussels-based French artist Elise Peroi for an off-site production residency in dialogue with the territory and local know-how.
Jeanne Vicerial
Jeanne Vicerial (born 1991, lives and works in Paris) is an artist, researcher and designer who shifts between craftsmanship, scientific research, art and design. A graduate of the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and theSACRe (Science, Arts, Creation, Research) doctoral programme, she is developing — in partnership with the École des MINES ParisTech — a patented robotic process for producing tailor-made clothes: at the crossroads of weaving, knitting and lace application. She creates her sculptural creations from a single recycled yarn adapted to the unique morphology of each model. In parallel, she founded the research and creative studio “Clinique Vestimentaire” after a stint with Hussein Chalayan. A resident at the Académie de France–Villa Médicis in Rome in 2019-2020, her creations have been exhibited in Paris (Palais de Tokyo, 2018), in Rome (Villa Médicis and Palais Farnèse, 2020), in Avignon (Collection Lambert, 2021) and have recently become part of the collection of the CNAP (National Center for Plastic Arts). Jeanne Vicerial is the winner of the 2024 residency at Villa Kujoyama, Kyoto.
Leslie Moquin
Leslie Moquin (born 1986, lives and works in Paris) graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure de la Photographie in Arles in 2013, and since has developed work that ambiguously shifts between documentary and poetic approaches. In 2021, she received support from the CNAP’s documentary photography aid fund for her work on animal tracking. The same year, she won a creative residency aboard the scientific schooner Tara. Since 2022, she has been collaborating with the author Fanny Taillandier on an artist book project (ADAGP SGDL Arcane 2022 grant). Her work has been exhibited at the Rencontres d’Arles (2013, 2017), at the Museum of Modern Art in Bogota, and at the Palazzo Farnese and the Villa Medici in Rome.
Practical information
Opening Saturday 1 July, 2023, from 4pm to 8pm in the presence of the artists.
Exhibition from 3 July to 16 September, 2023
Closed from July 24 to August 15, 2023
Open from Wednesday to Saturday, from 2pm to 6pm by online reservation only.
Admission: 5 Euros | Free admission from July 3 to 9 (Rencontres d’Arles) and from August 21 to 27, 2023 (Festival Agir pour le Vivant)
Opening week-end Arles
- Saturday 1 July, 6pm
Performance “Nymphose” by Jeanne Vicerial, Julia Cima and Nadine Schütz.
- Sunday 2 July, 5pm – 7pm
Correspondences: Readings followed by a drink. With:Véronique Caye, Carole Douillard, Nathalie Guiot, Barbara Polla, Agnès Thurnauer et Sandra de Vivies.
The Foundation, beyond the walls
- Partnership with the Festival Agir pour le Vivant, 21-27 August 2023, Arles
Round table “Creators Facing the Climate Emergency”
- Art-O-Rama, 30 August-3 September 2023, Marseille
Guest artist: Elise Peroi, launch of the Traversée publication.
Thanks to the Templon Gallery (Paris, Brussels, New York), French Academy in Rome – Villa Medici, IFF | International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
This exhibition takes part in the school programme Une Rentrée en Images initiated by Les Rencontres de la photographie d’Arles.
