France: The Marcel Duchamp Prize crowns Gaëlle Choisne

It’s a meeting that counts, but only in France. Created in 2000 to mark the new millennium, the Marcel Duchamp Prize is inspired by the famous Turner Prize in London. Four visual artists (who are increasingly female) are nominated. They are the subject of an exhibition which, once again this year, runs until January on a mezzanine at the Center Pompidou. When the collision reaches the halfway point, the verdict is in. A winner (and more and more often a winner) is designated. The event then changes its face for visitors. There is now Miss France and her runners-up (1). If I put the thing in the feminine, it’s because Gaëlle Choisne won the cup on October 14.

Haitian and Breton

The sculptor and photographer is 39 years old. The Prize goes to people in the middle of their careers, and not to beginners. Gaëlle was born in Cherbourg to a Haitian mother and a Breton father, which is good for multiculturalism. No need to look for new sources of inspiration among them. The woman works “on the contemporary issues of catastrophe, the exploitation of resources and the vestiges of colonialism.” It thus creates “open and inclusive” platforms. Collaborative in addition to the extent that researchers, musicians, artists and ordinary citizens are invited to participate in “workshops” ranging from improvised concerts to cooking classes. The winner has often exhibited in France and abroad, from the USA to Italy via South Korea and Canada. It’s a mini-star like there are many today, given the quantitative explosion of art centers.

Does the Marcel Duchamp Prize create stars? Yes. Sometimes. I could just as easily cite Dominique Gonzalez Forster as Kader Attia, Tatiana Trouvé or Adel Abdessemed. However, the French scene remains limited. The country also defends its own people quite poorly. It does not automatically lead to the international network. England on the other hand does. There is an open door (hopefully) to America. That said, honesty obliges me to say that the magic of the Turner Prize is no longer so obvious by dint of radicalism. Initially there was the choice of Anish Kapoor, Douglas Gordon or Gilbert & George. I wonder if anyone has remembered the names of the most recent elected officials, who seem to me to be forgotten as soon as they are appointed.

(1) The exhibition remains on display until January 6, 2025.

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Born in 1948, Etienne Dumont studied in Geneva which were of little use to him. Latin, Greek, law. A failed lawyer, he turned to journalism. Most often in the cultural sections, he worked from March 1974 to May 2013 at the “Tribune de Genève”, starting by talking about cinema. Then came fine arts and books. Other than that, as you can see, nothing to report.More info

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