Mathieu Mercier: Everything but the Kitchen Sink

Objects on a higher levelLamps, furniture, bicycles, typography, museum pedestals–the work of Mathieu Mercier, winner of the Prix Marcel Duchamp (2003), born 1970 in Conflans-Saint-Honorine, and now living in Paris, moves con fidently between art and everyday culture. He keeps referring back to the work of his heroes Marcel Duchamp and Piet Mondrian. Yet, Mathieu Mercier does not want to make inaccessible art, but works that are instantly descriptive and attractive . The banal everyday objects he presents are indeed at first simply beautiful. Mercier speaks in this regard of sublimation , of a finishing process that guides the objects to a higher level. The targeted change of position, the permanent exchange between high and low, raises the question as to the status of things between functionality and artistic pur poselessness. Mathieu Mercier skillfully reflects the concepts of Western culture of the 20th century in the field of tension between modern architecture, design and visual arts.

Exhibitions:

LOK Kunstmuseum St.Gallen, 23/8-9/11/2014

Villa Merkel Esslingen, 13/12/2014-22/2/2015