The French term “un certain regard” can actually and ironically enough be described as a look or glance that is hard to describe. In its inevitable erotic connotation it can both be a look of longing, love or lust, as well as of disapproval or disgust. It therefore continually hovers between gazing and staring. While gazing can very well objectify a body, only staring is considered rude as it is directed at difference, deviation and otherness. The borders however can be hard to determine and are bound to very personal predilections or fears.

The works in the international group exhibition “Un certain regard” all objectify the body and test the boundaries between gazing and staring, to different degrees. Various sexual personae and erotic references may make audiences feel both titillated as well as voyeuristic. The works on display manifest a sensitive, but emancipatory form of eroticism. Therefore, from the exhibiting artists’ position ‘un certain regard’ is not a vague concept, but translates as a convinced, assertive and genuine view on contemporary sensuality.

With: Sylvie Fleury, Celia Hempton, Dean Hutton, Rachel de Joode, Leigh Ledare, Walter Pfeiffer, Daniel Sinsel, Martin Soto Climent, Julie Verhoeven, Taocheng Wang, Wieske Wester.

We would like to thank the following galleries and publishers for their kind cooperation: Cinnnamon, Sadie Coles, Christophe Gaillard, MOREpublishers, Neumeister Bar-Am, Office Baroque, Proyectos Monclova, Sultana, Fons Welters.

 

Essay

Click to read ‘Desires are ghosts that dissolve as soon as you light the lamp of good sense’, a specially commissioned essay by Judith Vrancken.

 

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