Since February 5, 2011, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nice has been home to works by three young artists. Assan Smati, Vincent Ganivet, and Sarah Sze are in the spotlight. Their various creations allow for an exploration of their respective worlds.
The first world into which one is plunged upon arrival is that of Assan Smati. This French artist, who mainly works in Germany, stands at the intersection between classical art and more primitive art. Primitive art usually refers to the traditional works of non-Western cultures. His sculptures and paintings are proof of this. His “Heads,” representing African black faces in polished white resin, aim to be part of figurative art, an art in which the artist seeks to engage. In his other works, Assan Smati explores the thin boundary that can exist between man and animal, for example on one of his canvases, he depicts a woman’s body with the head of a lion or his sculpture of the centaur (half-man, half-horse).
Concrete block as raw material
In a completely different vein, Vincent Ganivet, also a young French artist, uses recycled materials and concrete blocks as the raw material for his creations. His goal is to defy the laws of gravity with his suspended work created for this exhibit.
“The Uncountables”: between art and architecture
The third universe is that of Sarah Sze. This American artist uses, like Vincent Ganivet, recycled materials, particularly household waste, to create her works. The piece displayed at MAMAC, “The Uncountables,” is a creation between art and architecture. Each object holds an important place in the entirety that is the structure. The aerial impression that this work conveys gives it all its subtlety.
The works of these three artists are on display at MAMAC until June 5.
