Mathieu Mercier / Myth vs. Utopia

Mathieu Mercier is one of the most prominent young artists on the French scene. His diverse yet coherent work has earned him the recognition of institutions as well as that of many contemporary art critics and collectors. After being awarded the Marcel Duchamp prize in 2003, his work was the subject of a large retrospective at the Musée d'art moderne de la Ville de Paris in 2007.

On the occasion of this new conversation on art, Mercier will reflect on the notions of place and wandering. Returning to a number of his works that question the project of modern artists (Mondrian, Rodchenko) and their utopian vision of an art integrated into life, he will try and explain the meaning of the objects he creates - often taking inspiration from staples of everyday life, some of which are themselves borrowed from the field of art. A longtime admirer of Mathieu Mercier's work, Jean de Loisy will emphasize its fictional power and political dimension. The title of the debate, "Myth vs. Utopia," will in the process also come under scrutiny.