La démocratie est illusion

Goldschmied & Chiari

8 Feb — 3 May 2014

For their first solo show in France, entitled La démocratie est illusion, Goldschmied & Chiari focus on the similarities between the practices of illusionism and those of the intelligence service, both used in the representation of deception and to persuade and fascinate the viewer. Through various media such as collage, photography, installations, video, as well as ethereal materials like sand, smoke, scenic devices and mirrors, Goldschmied & Chiari construct an imaginary set in which the secret operations during the Cold War are staged through sleight of hands and the materials used by the most famous illusionists in history.

A large part of the works exhibited reveals the inspiration and influences drawn from famous magicians. Above all: Harry Houdini with his famous tricks, like “hiding the elephant,” the “needle trick,” the “torture watercell,” the “metamorphosis trick,” and the “handcuff trick.” In his escapology performances the use of conflict and the extreme challenge made him unique. Other influences come from the illusionists Jasper Maskerlyne and John Mulholland. The artists themselves state that what mostly influenced them during the realization of the project was "the actual collaboration, during major military operations, between professional magicians and the intelligence.” Specimen was the illusionist Jasper Maskerlyne, who served the British MI16 during the Second World War. He invented techniques of camouflage and disguise that enabled the Allies to stop a series of German military actions in North Africa. Thanks to a game of light and a blinding device made with a mirror, Maskerlyne architected the disappearance of the Canal of Suez from... [lire plus]

La démocratie est illusion is part of PIANO, Franco-Italian platform for artistic exchange initiated by d.c.a / association française de développement des centres d’art supported by the Institut français, the French ministry of Culture and Communication, Institut français in Italy and Foundation Nuovi Mecenati

The exhibition is coproduced by Passerelle Centre d’art contemporain, Brest and Villa Croce Museo d'Arte Contemporanea, Genoa.