As part of the VISITEURS DU SOIR, Espace A VENDRE presents on Saturday, May 28, starting at 6:30 PM, a “duel” of critiques based on classical and contemporary works projected on screen.
It could be the “classico” of chatter between two figures that need no introduction in the Nice artistic world: Ben and Thierry Lagalla. Two artists who often have little to say and will make it known this Saturday as part of Espace A VENDRE and A DÉBATTRE.
Espace A VENDRE and Ben’s “debating space” program exhibitions, performances, screenings, debates, and other unusual projects in parallel and in synergy. After launching its PARISIAN OFFICE in 2008, Espace A VENDRE continues the experimentation by focusing on exchange, creation, and the energy created by an unprecedented collaboration between a renowned artist and a dynamic young gallery.
Interview with Bertrand Baraudou, creator of Espace A VENDRE
Nice Premium: Bertrand, tell us a bit about this cultural duel on Saturday?
Bertrand Baraudou: The idea was to revive pure critique through a chatter duel between two unavoidable figures of creation in Nice.
Ben Vautier is one of the few artists who always publicly criticizes and debates art, while Thierry Lagalla regularly surfs on contemporary art codes. It seemed interesting to me to bring them together in this friendly and festive duel.
NP: Ben vs Lagalla, is it almost the Classico of Nice art?
BB: Yes, that’s exactly it, and I liked playing with the Warhol/Basquiat parallel and having fun with it. Like Warhol, Ben, with this new space where Espace A VENDRE settled at his invitation, opens the door to young creation. Also, Ben was the first in Nice to defend Lagalla’s work, even comparing him at the time of the Saint Roch workshops to Jean-Michel Basquiat for his freedom of proposal.
How is Espace A VENDRE doing and what are the current events?
BB: Espace A VENDRE is doing great, and its new location in the Liberation district is a success.
Until June 10, the inaugural exhibition “OPENING” continues.
Starting June 18, Stéphane Steiner and Jérôme Robbe will take over, followed in September by a monographic exhibition by Emmanuel Régent. In October, Thierry Lagalla will do the same.
These three exhibitions are part of the contemporary art and Côte d’Azur project, a territory for experimentation from June to November 2011 in most of the Azurian diffusion places.
Finally, the little culture genius grants you three wishes…?
BB: 1- A committed cultural policy in Nice focused on the present and towards the future.
2- A batch of new quality galleries in Nice.
3- A flood of collectors from all over the world descending on the city, allowing us to better support the artists we work with.
