This exhibition features the work of Jean-Luc Moulène, exploring his diverse practice that spans sculpture, photography, and installation. The centerpiece is 'The Secession Knot (5.1)', a large structure of black and yellow painted construction boards that winds through the gallery space, examining the nature of artistic creation, the commodification of art, and mathematical concepts.
The exhibition at Secession showcases the multifaceted work of Jean-Luc Moulène, an artist who has explored the essence of artistic creation and authorship for over three decades. Moulène utilizes a wide array of materials and media, including photography, film, painting, sculpture, and installation, with a particular interest in interdisciplinary collaborations at the intersection of art and industrial design. His work consistently addresses the relationship between art as a commodity and its circulation within the broader market, defining his sculptures as 'objects' and his works as 'products'.
Moulène draws inspiration from poetry and mathematics, particularly set theory, which he views as a metaphor for social space. His practice involves observing and analyzing social and individual spaces, their forms, and intersections. Recently, his work has become more object- and material-focused, pushing the boundaries of material qualities and processing possibilities. He conceives of art as a 'conflict zone,' where artworks inherently contain 'yes' and 'no,' inviting viewers to find their own positions. The exhibition in Secession echoes his recent show at the Centre Pompidou, focusing on 'similarity and knots.' A core element is the 'space knot,' a construction of alternating black and yellow painted boards that weaves through the main room, creating distinct spatial segments. The interplay of black, representing matter, and yellow, representing language, generates a striking visual rhythm and highlights the constructive challenges and solutions inherent in the installation. Moulène's ongoing engagement with the knot, both mathematically and symbolically, serves as a principle to describe complex situations and a metaphor that resists binary thinking.