Roland Barthes’ Structure du fait divers (1964) was certainly the inspiration for this exhibition. A “bastard brother of information”, according to the semiologist, the news item helps us to name and identify the aberrant causalities and coincidental relationships that disrupt everyday life. “Faits divers – Une hypothèse en 26 lettres, 5 équations et aucune réponse” (Miscellaneous facts – A hypothesis in 26 letters, 5 equations and no answer) offers a broad and comprehensive artistic panorama, and plays on the principles of enigma and trickery.
The MAC VAL is conducting a real investigation, curated by its director Nicolas Surlapierre, in association with Vincent Lavoie, art historian and full professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal. “Faits divers”, which brings together no fewer than 80 artists of different backgrounds and formal practices, has been awarded the label of national interest (EIN). Through an innovative scenography that provides the keys to deciphering multiple artistic proposals, visitors will be able to decode the workings of the genre. And, as the exhibition’s subtitle announces, “A hypothesis in 26 letters, 5 equations and no answer”, each visitor can give free rein to his or her imagination and free will.
This group show inaugurates the MAC VAL’s 20th anniversary, which will be celebrated throughout 2025.
Exhibition curator: Nicolas Surlapierre
Associate Curator: Vincent Lavoie
Coordinator: Julien Blanpied, assisted by Marzia Ferri
Image: Julien Audebert, Reconstitution du meurtre de Elsie Beckmann, 2004. Tirage lambda, diasec, aluminium / Tirage lambda, diasec, aluminium. 32,7×210cm.
© Julien Audebert, Adagp, Paris 2024. Collection Frac Occitanie Montpellier.