On October 25, a major retrospective exhibition titled “Benoît Vignier: Beyond Ideas and Materials” premiered in Beijing, and in attendance was the 83-year-old French artist himself, who delivered a live performance as part of the opening festivities.
The exhibition showcases nearly 180 works created over Benoît Vignier’s six-decade career, spanning a variety of mediums including performance, painting, sculpture, photography, sound, and film. The expansive display is organized into various sections such as early paintings, cardboard sculptures, tubes, waste, tar-gravel compositions, performances in trash heaps, black mirrors, coal piles, and installations like “Stock Market,” all set within the Phoenix Center’s over 10,000-square-meter exhibition space. This event marks not only Benoît Vignier’s first large-scale retrospective in China but also the most extensive solo exhibition of his work globally.
In his speech, Vignier shared, “I decided to pursue art at the age of 11, and by 14, I realized that being an artist goes beyond just painting a picture or sculpting something; it’s about striving for something transcendent. We need to explore what art truly is and contemplate its essence.”
Xiao Ge, the Chinese curator and art editor at Phoenix Art, emphasized Vignier’s role as an artist who continually pushes boundaries. He noted that Vignier’s work seamlessly navigates between different artistic expressions, from painting to sculpture, yet consistently reflects a profound investigation into materials and concepts. Vignier’s creations serve as a bridge between diverse cultures.
This exhibition is a significant cultural event, highlighting the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France, the Franco-Chinese Cultural Tourism Year, and the 18th “Spring of Culture” festival between the two nations. The showcase will run until February 28, 2025.
