Stéphane Ducret : Not For Tourists (after Josh Smith)
I am pleased to present my very first exhibition in the new premises shared by my studio and ART CLASSE, in Pregny-Chambésy / Geneva. Having freed myself from all gallery representation in order to better concentrate on the development of my artistic approach, I inaugurate here the first of a series of studio exhibitions.
This exhibition introduces a new aspect of my appropriation work, destined to develop in the future in the same form, but on different subjects.
The exhibition consists of 10 paintings: A single large painting representing the "portrait" of the artist who inspires my work for this show, Josh Smith, known for his paintings in expressionist and fauvist hues and marked by large brushstrokes. A series of eight small paintings based on his famous "Palm Tree Paintings", which were seemingly easy-sleazy and even a little "awkward" because they played with kitsch representations even though they were very well painted.
J’ai le plaisir de présenter ma toute première exposition dans les nouveaux locaux communs à mon atelier et à ART CLASSE, à Pregny-Chambésy / Genève. M’étant libéré de toute représentation de galerie dans le but de mieux me concentrer sur le développement de ma démarche artistique, j’inaugure ici la première d’une série d’expositions en atelier.
Cette exposition introduit un nouveau volet de mon travail d’appropriation, voué à se développer dans le futur sous la même forme, mais sur des sujets différents.
L’exposition consiste en 10 tableaux: Un grand tableau unique représentant le « portrait » de l’artiste qui inspire mon travail pour cette exposition, Josh Smith, connu pour ses peintures aux teintes expressionnistes et fauves et marquées par des grandes traces de pinceau. Une série de huit petites peintures basées sur ses fameuses « Palm Tree Paintings » qui étaient d’une apparente facilité et même un peu « gênantes » car elles jouaient avec les représentations kitsch alors même qu’elle étaient très bien peintes.
Stéphane Ducret Studio
Chemin Champ-Caron 5a
1292 Pregny-Chambésy / Geneva
Dates
September 16 - October 1, 2023
Opening Reception
Saturday, September 16, 1-7pm
Opening days
Weekdays: Sept. 19 - 22 & 29, 3-7pm
Sundays: Sept. 17, 24 & Oct. 1, 3-7pm
Or by appointment
Stéphane Ducret
Portrait of Josh Smith, 2023
Oil, oil stick and pencil on linen
188 x 138 x 3,5 cm | 74 x 54 ⅓ x 1 ⅓ inches
Private Collection, Cologny
Stéphane Ducret
Portrait of Josh Smith (détail), 2023
Oil, oil stick and pencil on linen
188 x 138 x 3,5 cm | 74 x 54 ⅓ x 1 ⅓ inches
Private Collection, Cologny
Stéphane Ducret's work forges links with other appropriation artists such as Elaine Sturtevant, Louise Lawler, Richard Pettibone and Robert Longo. What sets him apart from his predecessors is his interest in the artist's practice, technique and development.
Stéphane Ducret
Untitled (after Josh Smith), BJS1, 2023
Oil on canvas
60 x 50 cm | 23 ⅔ x 19 ⅔ inches
Stéphane Ducret
Untitled (after Josh Smith), BJS2, 2023
Oil on canvas
60 x 50 cm | 23 ⅔ x 19 ⅔ inches
Stéphane Ducret
Untitled (after and beyond Josh Smith), BJS3, 2023
Oil on canvas
60 x 50 cm | 23 ⅔ x 19 ⅔ inches
The centerpiece of the works on show here is the portrait of the artist Josh Smith, which is also the theme of the exhibition as a whole. This portrait is developed like part of our smartphone screen: several images appear on two columns... the artist's portrait, two of his works and a representation of one of his exhibitions, in this case at the Centre de Art Contemporain in Geneva. This is the first portrait in a series that Ducret intends to develop.
Sixtine Crutchfield (modern & contemporary art specialist) in conversation with Stéphane Ducret with subtitles available in English and French (16’20’’). The complete Conversation (1h10’) can be seen by clicking on this link.
Stéphane Ducret
Untitled (beyond Josh Smith), BJS4, 2023
Oil on canvas
60 x 50 cm | 23 ⅔ x 19 ⅔ inches
Stéphane Ducret
Untitled (beyond Josh Smith), BJS5, 2023
Oil on canvas
60 x 50 cm | 23 ⅔ x 19 ⅔ inches
The other paintings propose a progression based on the works of Josh Smith. First, with painting styles that closely resemble the originals. Then, with a development beyond the artist's technique and basic idea. We move from palm trees to the famous Geneva water fountain, from the kitsch of "motel decor" paintings to overly expressive and intentionally deceptively slapdash works, so as to prevent the viewer from entering into a passive contemplation of beauty.
Stéphane Ducret
Untitled (beyond Josh Smith), BJS6, 2023
Oil on canvas
60 x 50 cm | 23 ⅔ x 19 ⅔ inches
“Learning the practices and techniques of other artists and reusing them to develop my own, or to teach others how to paint, is a way for me to pay tribute to them.”
Stéphane Ducret
Untitled (beyond Josh Smith), BJS7, 2023
Oil on canvas
60 x 50 cm | 23 ⅔ x 19 ⅔ inches
Stéphane Ducret
Untitled (beyond Josh Smith), BJS8, 2023
Oil on canvas
60 x 50 cm | 23 ⅔ x 19 ⅔ inches
All these works, or series of works, are linked to Stéphane Ducret's painting courses for ART CLASSE, the famous REAL/FAKE workshops, where he teaches how to paint in the manner of recognized contemporary (and postmodern) artists. He combines a theoretical part on the artist, his life and work, with learning techniques on the materials used and the artist's way of painting.
Stéphane Ducret
Untitled (beyond Josh Smith), BJS9
2023
Oilstick and paper on Arches paper
76 x 57 cm | 29 ⅞ x 22 ⅓ inches
Private Collection, Geneva
Stéphane Ducret
Untitled (beyond Josh Smith), BJS10
2023
Oilstick and paper on Arches paper
57 x 47 cm | 22 ⅓ x 18 ½ inches
Stéphane Ducret
Untitled (beyond Josh Smith), BJS11
2023
Oilstick and paper on Arches paper
57 x 47 cm | 22 ⅓ x 18 ½ inches
Stéphane Ducret
Untitled (beyond Josh Smith), BJS12
2023
Oilstick and paper on Arches paper
57 x 47 cm | 22 ⅓ x 18 ½ inches
Finally, the exhibition closes with a work from Stéphane Ducret's previous series, REAL ESTATE, where, in highly elaborate mises en abîme as much conceptual as formal, he integrates works by other artists into compositions of domestic interiors, creating a new narrative, imbued with strangeness.
Stéphane Ducret
Painting Number 9 (#JakeAndDinosChapman)
2020
Oil and oilstick on linen
208 x 188 x 3,5 cm | 81 ⅞ x 74 x 1 ⅓ in