UN CABINET DE CURIOSITES to Showcase Ten Parisian Artists at Undercurrent Projects, Beginning 12/18

This Thursday from 6-8pm, join Undercurrent Projects for a preview reception: "Un Cabinet de Curiosités Part. 1," an exhibition of 10 Parisian artists, curated by Antoine Lefebvre (opening December 18 at 6 p.m.).

With:
Charlotte Hubert
Farah Khelil
Juan Mendizabal
Benjamin Sabatier
Caroline Sebilleau
Cannelle Tanc
Frederic Vincent
Samuel Yal
And guests!

Proceeding from Anthony Huberman's seminal essay For the Blind Man in the Dark Room Looking for the Cat that isn't There, Lefebvre explores the reality of art as non-knowledge.

Cabinet de curiosités assembles a group of young, emerging Parisian artists who take a scientific approach to art-making. They work in the fields of economy, geometry, publishing, or social science, as well as the traditionally related disciplines of history or philosophy. These artists twist the way we usually view art, and create things that are not necessarily as they appear to be.

These works are often strange, disorienting, and much more complicated than they initially appear.

Taking his inspiration from the 19th century artist publisher and curator, Antoine Lefebvre brings to New York the work of the most brilliant minds he found in the French capital. Tied by both art and friendship, they are not necessarily all French, but they came to Paris to find what it is famous for: good food, wine, and artistic comradery.

On taxonomy: "This passage quotes a 'certain Chinese encyclopaedia' in which it is written that 'animals are divided into: (a) belonging to the Emperor, (b) embalmed, (c) tame, (d) suckling pigs, (e) sirens, (f) fabulous, (g) stray dogs, (h) included in the present classification, (i) frenzied, (j) innumerable, (k) drawn with a very fine camelhair brush, (l) et cetera, (m) having just broken the water pitcher, (n) that from a long way off look like flies'." -- Michel Foucault, The Order of Things: An Archaeology of the Human Sciences

It all takes place at Undercurrent Projects, 215 E 5th Street, NYC, 10003. By Appointment only.