Niklas Taleb, Luna (2023) courtesy the artist & Edouard Montassut
Among the 195 galleries from 42 countries, let’s focus on Edouard Montassut, a Paris-based gallery that has made a name for itself internationally. It is one of the most cutting-edge galleries and has been taking part in Basel (Switzerland) and Paris for several years. Founded in 2019 in the 9th arrondissement, the gallery defends a conceptual line of artists who are not yet widely known in France. I discovered the gallery’s approach at Art-o-rama Marseille and wanted to find out more. Patrick Jullien is Edouard Montassut’s main partner. He shares us his challenging vision.
What are the keys to success ?
It’s the fruit of long-term work, the defence of an international scene of artists from our generation who are still not very visible here. Taking risks, having a personal taste and something of the elusive are all factors in success.
What is your booth proposal ?
We are offering a group show of 6 artists that we support.
The German photographer Niklas Taleb is currently exhibiting his work in the gallery. He takes as his starting point close-up environments and familiar elements, domestic architectures that question the codes of representation and sociability. Taking particular care with the framing process, he reintroduces the codes of craftsmanship into a digital environment.
The French artist Marie Angeletti, who lives in New York, has a multidisciplinary approach. In this series of wooden planks, she appropriates an industrial object and uses paint to place it in an artistic context. Salvaged from the courtyard of her New York studio, these planks were used to keep birds away from the window sills.
With the American artist Matthew Langan-Peck, the sculptures, always oversized, are based on objects from the public sphere or customised elements such as Easter eggs. These works are reminiscent of minimal sculpture and Donal Judd in particular. The series of sporty-looking figures seem to be guardians of this box, raising the question of its contents.
Canadian artist Deshaun Price works on questions of temporality in paintings that seem almost unreal. The figure is dressed in a blue shirt, the folds of which hint at the history of the artist’s work.
Opposite, an abstract painting by Joanne Roberstson. The Glasgow-born artist is a painter as well as a musician, which leads to a cross-breeding of practices.
In terms of collector profiles, what have you noticed in what remains a tense context ?
Americans and Asians are present. All the major figures in the art world are here, because Paris has really come into its own.
What line do you defend ?
Our aim is to bring artists to France who are not necessarily seen.
What advice would you give to first-time collectors ?
Push open the doors of the galleries, see everything, let yourself be surprised.
In Paris, you made an original choice for the 9th arrondissement, a relative risk-taker?
The geography of Paris is changing. People are on the move, international collectors are visiting us and more even since the Paris International Art Fair has chosen to set up in our street !
Practical Infos :
Basel Paris
18/20 octobre 24
Tickets
Full price 44 €
Evening 35 €
Permanent 115 €
https://www.artbasel.com/paris/tickets
At the Gallery now :