The Object of Criticism

Benoît Maire

16 Jan 2011
6 Mar 2011

For his first solo exhibition in The Netherlands the French artist Benoît Maire will present, under the title The Object of Criticism the second part of his philosophical investigation project Aesthetics of the Differends. In the exhibition five artworks are trying to find a solution to the question: what is the Object of philosophy? The artist understands philosophy as a critic (analytical critic) and the object of criticism can be understood as the object of philosophy.

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Benoît Maire - bron

Benoît Maire, uses various artistic forms including videos, photography, performances, texts and sculptures. His underlying medium is theory that is working using philosophical solutions as a form of materialisation in his work. He is working on a process in which the language is formalising the art object. The sculpture is a metaphor of alchemical transformation and the vitrine is symbolising the conference. In the show the images of people observing to a place with an expression of admiration is the formalisation of the artwork.

Maire’s attitude is to use philosophical questions not only as a starting point of a problematic, but in order to find a constant translation from different languages and contexts. In this way the French artists overstress the core role of the exhibition space as a space of discussion and transformations of codes. His practice also engages in the act of reading; Maire has realized a number of pieces that constitute visual interpretations of theoretical texts, including published works by Arthur C. Danto and Alain Badiou.

Benoît Maire

Benoît Maire born in 1978 in Pessac, France lives and works in Paris, has recently presented solo exhibitions at Frac Aquitaine, Bordeaux (2010), Croy Nielsen, Berlin (2009), Graz Kunstverein (with Falke Pisano), Graz (2009), Galerie Cortex Athletico, Bordeaux (2008) and Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2008). “Un Nouveau Festival” at Centre Pompidou, Paris (2009), “Paper Exhibition” at Artists Space, New York (2009), “Object, the undeniable success of operations” at Stedelijk museum bureau, Amsterdam (2008), “Les Feuilles” at Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2008), “The artist is a mysterious entertainer” at De Appel, Amsterdam (2008), the 9th Lyon Biennale (2007) and “Proposition de Colloque” at Kadist Fondation, Paris (2007), The Repetition, Hollybush Gardens, London (2007). Conferences: Aesthetics of the Differends, with Jonas Zakaitis, National Gallery, Vilnius, Esthétique des différends, Musée d’art Moderne, Strasbourg (2010).