TAB Event - Claire Xuan "In the Open Air"

Closes in 15 days
At L'Institut Franco-Japonais de Tokyo
Media: Photography, Crafts, Other, Art Talk

This exhibition presents two of sculptor Claire Xuan's most recent works, "Provence" and "Japan". These book-objects, also called portfolios or travel diaries, were published in a limited edition of 999 copies by the French publisher "Eléments d'Edition" as part of the "Collection of the 5 elements." They will be shown together with about 20 photographic works produced in France and Japan, in order to dissociate the process of photographic work and that of art publishing.
These photographs evoke the natural elements - water, wood and earth, presented here as the principal subject. They are presented in glass cases under their original form, destructured as it were, in order to make them more legible, as well as to facilitate an appreciation of the artistic process by which they were made. Sheets of parchment paper that also revolve around the theme of natural elements evoked by the portfolios will also be on display.
This exhibition is held in collaboration with the gallery of the United Nations University in Tokyo.

Technique and paper

These travel diaries are distinguished from each other in part by the printing technique, as well as by the artisanal process of the book-object.
Situated somewhere between the book lover's book and a coffer of ancient engravings, these travel diaries, unedited and unaltered, are something of a fusion of contemporary techniques used by professional art publishers and a long heritage of printing traditions.
Each original photograph is printed in four colors using a monocolor press, on 250-300g weight paper, composed exclusively of natural fibers that are more often used for engravings and lithographs (virgin cotton fibers). This handmade paper produced according to a traditional artisanal technique is most often produced for engraving purposes. Special attention is given to the drying process between different color passages. The paper is then joined with coffers made entirely by hand with rare types of paper, composed mostly of tea fibers and algae, parchment paper, or even paper that has been made in the country of origin where the coffer came from.
The "Japan" portfolio is of particular interest, having been achieved on traditional Japanese washi paper. Each work has been realized on a different sheet of washi, conferring on each of the works a unique character.
Xuan has personally overseen the creation of each work and the putting together of each portfolio.

Meet-the-artist session, over a glass of wine (with French-Japanese translation)
May 31st (Sat) 15:30-17:30 in the gallery on the second floor

Held concurrently: Claire Xuan "In the Open Air"
May 12th - June 1st 2008 (9:30-17:30)
Gallery 1, United Nations University in Tokyo
(5-53-70 Jingumae,Shibuya-ku,Tokyo Tel : 03-5467-1212)

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