Following successful exhibitions curated by Ugo Rondinone in 2008 and Jeremy Deller in 2009, this year the Palais de Tokyo gives carte blanche to the British New York-based artist Adam McEwen. Fresh Hell creates a dialogue between medieval sculpture and conceptual art, forgotten artists and those already blessed by history. When faced with this history, what stance can an artist take today? If everything has been done already, perhaps now is when the real work can begin…

Fresh Hell features work from over 30 contemporary artists – including British artists Sarah Lucas, Michael Landy and Martin Creed – and incorporates medieval pieces from the Musée de Cluny. The exhibition dives into history, recent and distant, but not from A to Z. Rather, it offers a more unstructured and eclectic vision, generating many paradoxes.  And yet, this breath of fresh air is continuously brushed away by the ghosts of the past. Fresh Hell is about the activity of making art, the relentless pursuit of the object that manages to connect the consciousness of the artist to that of the viewer.

The ‘open Thursday’ programme at the Palais de Tokyo features two events connected to Fresh Hell : a chance to hear from the artist-curator Adam McEwen at a round table on 21 October, and a performance by Martin Creed and his band on 28 October. To find out more visit the Palais de Tokyo website.

Venue
Palais de Tokyo
13 avenue du Président Wilson
75116 Paris
M° Iena

Dates
20 October 2010 - 16 January 2011
www.palaisdetokyo.com