Black and white is the unique topic for an extraordinary exhibition to visit in Rennes over summer 2021, entitled Au-delà de la couleur, le noir et le blanc dans la Collection Pinault (Beyond colour: black and white in the Pinault Collection). These are two colours “that, under the heraldic names of sable and argent, give Brittany its flag, the famous Gwenn-ha-Du, the city of Rennes its coat of arms and the Jacobin Order its coat of arms” explains Jean-Jacques Aillagon, the curator of the exhibition. “Their use by modern and contemporary artists has often been associated with radical experiments and a desire to express the radical nature of things”.
Paintings, sculptures, sketches, photographs, videos and more
In total, 108 works will be presented at the Couvent des Jacobins in Rennes from 12 June to 29 August. Like the Debout ! exhibition, which attracted almost 100,000 visitors in 2018, many of the chosen works have never been shown to the public. They explore a number of practices in art: painting, sculpting, sketching, photography, video and even fashion, with iconic Balenciaga dresses in particular.
Among the many works on show, there are some that stand out in particular: Bourgeois Bust – Jeff and Ilona by Jeff Koons, a self-portrait of the artist and his muse, La Cicciolina, made from marble and Coup de tête by Adel Abdessemed, a huge bronze work of 2.27 metres tall that represents the famous incident where Zidane headbutted Materazzi. There are many other works that address the topic of black and white from another angle, created by major names in photography, in particular: Annie Leibovitz, Irving Penn, Man Ray, Raymond Depardon, Dorothea Lange, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Richard Avedon, to name a few.
A reflection on the symbolism of black and white
While looking at these remarkable works of contemporary art, visitors will be invited “to contemplate the question of the inferred symbolism of black and white and therein the emotional resonance of these colours” explains the former Minister for Culture.
The works also reveal more about the contemporary art collector François Pinault. “For decades, (…) he continued to direct his choices, preferences and acquisitions towards works that sometimes demonstrate artists’ commitment to the major issues currently affecting the world – which was revealed in the Debout ! exhibition – and sometimes show the passion of creators for the most radical and minimalist artistic experiments, those that remove the story of the subject from the work and the easy option of colour. It is without a doubt these latter aspects that reveal the collector’s most private taste,” believes Jean-Jacques Aillagon.
One ticket, two exhibitions, one summer time
Alongside the exhibition on black and white, the Rennes Musée des Beaux-arts (Museum of Fine Arts) is hosting a unique exhibition on the topic of “La couleur crue” (Pure colour). The ticket is valid for entry to the two exhibitions offering, over the course of one summer, a unique artistic experience in Brittany.
In addition to these two major exhibitions at the Couvent des Jacobins and the Musée des Beaux-arts, the city of Rennes and local figures in contemporary art are presenting an event on contemporary creation in summer 2021, entitled “Exporama”. Visitors will be invited to explore the many creative pieces on display throughout the entire summer.
Useful informations
- The ticket office will open May. It is possible to register for an alert to be informed on the day that tickets are available for sale on the website https://www.tourisme-rennes.com/en/pinault-exhibition-rennes/
- Standard single adult ticket: €10 (ticket is valid for both exhibitions at the Couvent des Jacobins and Musée des Beaux-arts)
- Concession price: recipients of statutory minimum (RSA, ASS, old-age minimum, jobseekers), disabled people and disabled veterans: €4
- Sortir card holders: €2
- Free for people under 26 years old
- Tickets for groups of 10+ people on reservation only: €8
- Guided tour: €16 (reservation required)
Artists list
Adel Abdessemed, Jennifer Allora & Guillermo Calzadilla, Richard Avedon, Cristobal Balenciaga, Troy Brauntuch, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Maurizio Cattelan, Tacita Dean, Edith Dekyndt, Raymond Depardon, Peter Fischli & David Weiss, Dan Flavin, Michel François, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Theaster Gates, Mark Grotjahn, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Dorothea Lange, Bertrand Lavier, Annie Leibovitz, Francesco Lo Savio, Enzo Mari, Fabio Mauri, Paul McCarthy, Mario Merz, Boris Mikhaïlov, Manolo Millares, François Morellet, Olivier Mosset, Zanele Muholi, Youssef Nabil, David Nash, Paulo Nazareth, Shirin Neshat, Roman Opalka, Giulio Paolini, Michel Parmentier, Irving Penn, Man Ray, Naito Rei, Anselm Reyle, Bridget Riley, Nobuo Sekine, Rudolf Stingel, Elaine Sturtevant, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Yuan Sun & Yu Peng, Antoni Tapies, Niele Toroni, Günther Uecker, Franz West, Christopher Wool, Yan Pei-Ming.
