Laurent GRASSO

Para Museum

solo show, curated by Philippe Costamagna

July 1, 2016 - October 3, 2016

Musée des beaux-arts Palais Fesch - Ajaccio

press release

View of the exhibition “Para Museum” at Musée des beaux-arts Palais Fesch, Ajaccio (France), 2016

Video projection : "Elysée", 2016, 35 mm film, looped, 16 min 29 sec
A film shot in the Salon Doré of the Elysée Palace, the personal office of the President of the French Republic. Stressing the idea of a continuity of power, which exists above and beyond its incarnation by an individual, the film scans over the royal gildings and everyday life details of the State’s operational center.
Courtesy Perrotin

View of the exhibition “Para Museum” at Musée des beaux-arts Palais Fesch, Ajaccio (France), 2016

Courtesy Perrotin

View of the exhibition “Para Museum” at Musée des beaux-arts Palais Fesch, Ajaccio (France), 2016

"Studies in the Past" / Oil on wood / 30x26,5 cm , 11 13/16 x 10 7/16 inches / Unique
Courtesy Perrotin

View of the exhibition “Para Museum” at Musée des beaux-arts Palais Fesch, Ajaccio (France), 2016

Sculpture : "Hand of Justice" , 2016 / Marble, brass / 26 x 11 x 6 cm , 10 1/4x 4 5/16 x 2 3/8 inches / 85 x 30 x 30 cm , 33 7/16 x 11 13/16 x 11 13/16 inches (Pedestal dimensions)
Video projection : "Soleil double", 2014 / 16mm film, loop
Courtesy Perrotin

View of the exhibition “Para Museum” at Musée des beaux-arts Palais Fesch, Ajaccio (France), 2016

On right : "Eclipse", 2013 / Neon /100 cm Ø , 39 1/4 inches Ø
Abstraction operation by which two circular neon draw a solar eclipse
Courtesy Perrotin

View of the exhibition “Para Museum” at Musée des beaux-arts Palais Fesch, Ajaccio (France), 2016

Sculpture in the middle :"S.T", 2016 / Marble 36 x 20 x 25 cm , 14 3/16 x 7 7/8 x 9 13/16 inches / 85 x 35 x 35 cm, 33 7/16 x 13 3/4 x 13 3/4 in (Pedestal dimensions) / Unique
Courtesy Perrotin

View of the exhibition “Para Museum” at Musée des beaux-arts Palais Fesch, Ajaccio (France), 2016

On left : "Studies into the past" / Oil and palladium leaf on wood /22 x 24 x 5.5 cm / 8 11/16 x 9 7/16 x 2 3/16 in / Unique
Look of Napoleon 1st in suit of Coronation (according to a work of François Gérard, known as Baron Gerard)
On right : "Studies into the past" / Oil and palladium leaf on wood /22 x 24 x 5.5 cm / 8 11/16 x 9 7/16 x 2 3/16 in / Unique
Look of Marcello Bacciarelli (according to his self-portrait)
Video projection : "Bomarzo", 2011 / super 8 film transferred to DVD, 18 min, loop
Courtesy Perrotin

View of the exhibition “Para Museum” at Musée des beaux-arts Palais Fesch, Ajaccio (France), 2016

"Studies into the past" / Oil and palladium leaf on wood / 22 x 24 x 5.5 cm , 8 11/16 x 9 7/16 x 2 3/16 in / unique / Look of Prince Jérôme-Napoléon Bonaparte (according to a work of François-Joseph Kinsoen)
These paintings on silver background, from the Studies into the Past series, insulate the figure’s look depicted in paintings from the Palais Fesch collections to make pure presences, both enigmatic and oppressive. Haunting the museum space like an inquisitor’s spectrum, they seem to be watching the comings and goings of visitors.
Courtesy Perrotin

View of the exhibition “Para Museum” at Musée des beaux-arts Palais Fesch, Ajaccio (France), 2016

Courtesy Perrotin

View of the exhibition “Para Museum” at Musée des beaux-arts Palais Fesch, Ajaccio (France), 2016

"Studies into the past" / Oil and palladium leaf on wood / 40 x 30 x 5.5 cm , 15 3/4 x 11 13/16 x 2 3/16 inches / Unique
Phantom of St. Anthony of Padua (after a work of Sebastiano Filippi, known as Bastianino)
Figures of saints from the paintings in the collection of the Palais Fesch , animate the silver surface of the Studies into the Past. Like ghosts or guards , they show an evanescent reality while embodying the genius loci - the spirit of place - this museum
Courtesy Perrotin

View of the exhibition “Para Museum” at Musée des beaux-arts Palais Fesch, Ajaccio (France), 2016

On left : "1590, North Berwick, un château du roi Jacques VI d'Écosse situé sur la côte écossaise, frappé par la foudre des tempestarii" / Showcase in solid walnut , oil on wood , fulgurite, neon/ 45 x 110 x 30 cm , 17 11/16 x 43 5/16 x 11 13/16 inches / Unique
In the middle : "Archimedes", 2016 / Marble / Length : 57 cm , 22 7/16 inches (Diameter) / Unique
On right : "1610 IV", 2014 / Neon, black transparent altuglas / 135 x 210 x 25 cm , 53 1/8 x 82 3/4 x 9 3/4 inches / Unique
Courtesy Perrotin

View of the exhibition “Para Museum” at Musée des beaux-arts Palais Fesch, Ajaccio (France), 2016

On right : "Studies into the Past", 2016 / Oil on canvas / 23 x 20 x 5.5 cm , 9 1/16 x 7 7/8 x 2 3/16 inches / Unique
In an abstract space and covered in gold leaf, riders seem suspended in time, fascinated by the breathtaking sight of a double black sun
Courtesy Perrotin

View of the exhibition “Para Museum” at Musée des beaux-arts Palais Fesch, Ajaccio (France), 2016

On left : "Studies into the Past" / Oil on wood panel, gold leaf / 59 x 52 cm , 23 1/4 x 20 1/2 inches / Unique
In an abstract space and covered in gold leaf, riders seem suspended in time, fascinated by the breathtaking sight of a black sun
Courtesy Perrotin

View of the exhibition “Para Museum” at Musée des beaux-arts Palais Fesch, Ajaccio (France), 2016

"Anechoic Wall", 2016 / Wood, gold leaf / 35 x 49 x 3.5 cm , 13 3/4 x 19 5/16 x 1 3/8 inches / Unique
Courtesy Perrotin