Coué 1
2006
144 x130 x 21,5cm
Alain Séchas
Coué 1 is an animated sculpture that hypnotically highlights the self-motivating leitmotiv of the ‘Coué Method’: “Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better.”This is the mantra that is repeated by different male and female voices in the soundtrack – first in an incomprehensible painfully slow slur, becoming clear and speeding up into a drilling hilarious sounding high pitching spin, as if helium had been inhaled. This work was commissioned by the Association GEF Psy in Nancy under the aegis of the Fondation de France in order to commemorate Emile Coué (1857-1926) who was a French behavioral psychologist and pharmacist who particularly studied the effects of positive thinking. Séchas also created a Monument to Jacques Lacan in 2002 featuring the cat, his house-style character. Through direct bodily experience, the spiraling apparatus is supposed to trap the spectator into seeing and hearing with direct reference to Marcel Duchamp’s Anemic Cinema and Rotoreliefs from the late 1920s and 1930s. It was initially shown in Séchas’ solo show “Magic Slates” (Galerie Chantal Crousel, Paris) in with an accompanying catalogue: “For Coué, French precursor to American Positivism, the spiral of kinetic art that allows for the reuniting in one and the same unity progress in art and faith in individual development, producing an art that supports you and pushes you into sweet folly.”
Alain Séchas is an artist and cartoonist. Since the early 1980s, he has developed a highly recognizable and singular body of work composed of drawings, sculptures, videos and installations. With a desire to reflect on our human condition, our fears and frustrations, Séchas repeatedly pictures and stages anthropomorphic figures in grotesque or humorous settings. The contrast between the nature of the depicted scenes and the naïve line of his characters that recall the aesthetic of cartoons and toys is accompanied by a sense of derealization challenging the audience in their perception of art. The eccentric and irreverent quality of his work, being highly informed by the History of modern and contemporary art, is inscribed in a thoughtful gesture that aims to test the boundaries of artistic formalism.
Colors:
Related works sharing similar palette
© » ARTS EQUATOR
How the Singapore literary ecosystem tackles mental health | ArtsEquator Thinking and Talking about Arts and Culture in Southeast Asia ArtsEquator Viewpoints December 27, 2021 By Sarah Tang (1,450 words, 5-minute read) cw: Contains mentions of suicide There appears to be more local books and writing about mental health in the Singapore lit scene in recent years...
© » SLASH PARIS
Guy Leclercq — Épures et couleurs — Dutko / Quai Voltaire Gallery — Exhibition — Slash Paris Login Newsletter Twitter Facebook Guy Leclercq — Épures et couleurs — Dutko / Quai Voltaire Gallery — Exhibition — Slash Paris English Français Home Events Artists Venues Magazine Videos Back Guy Leclercq — Épures et couleurs Exhibition Painting View of the artist’s studio Guy Leclercq Épures et couleurs Ends in 27 days: December 7, 2023 → January 13, 2024 Dutko Gallery is pleased to present from December 7th until January 13th a selection of the most recent works by Belgian artist Guy Leclercq...
© » SLASH PARIS
40 ans du Frac ! — Gunaikeîon — Frac île-de-france, les Réserves — Exposition — Slash Paris Connexion Newsletter Twitter Facebook 40 ans du Frac ! — Gunaikeîon — Frac île-de-france, les Réserves — Exposition — Slash Paris Français English Accueil Événements Artistes Lieux Magazine Vidéos Retour 40 ans du Frac ! — Gunaikeîon Exposition Techniques mixtes Vue de l’exposition 40 ans du Frac ! — Gunaikeîon au Frac île-de-france, les Réserves, Romainville © Frac Île-de-France 40 ans du Frac ! Gunaikeîon Encore 2 mois : 15 octobre 2023 → 24 février 2024 Pour les 40 ans des Frac, il s’agit à la fois de repenser l’histoire de l’institution, écrite notamment par le biais de sa collection, et de tendre vers des futurs communs et désirables...
© » SLASH PARIS
Amy Bravo — I’m Going There With You — Semiose Gallery — Exhibition — Slash Paris Login Newsletter Twitter Facebook Amy Bravo — I’m Going There With You — Semiose Gallery — Exhibition — Slash Paris English Français Home Events Artists Venues Magazine Videos Back Previous Next Amy Bravo — I’m Going There With You Exhibition Installation, painting, sculpture, mixed media Upcoming Amy Bravo, Elegy to the Mustache, 2024 Graphite, wax pastel, acrylic on canvas, found objects, mirror and plaster — 54 × 36 × 1 in...
© » KADIST
Nikita Kadan
2013Ukraine is under tension due to the politics of President lanoukovitch since 2010...
© » KADIST
Zai Kuning
2014Concerned with the early history of Singapore, Zai Kuning spent many years living with and researching the history of the Riau peoples who were the first inhabitants of Singapore...
© » KADIST
Gabriel Chaile
2019For the project Aguas calientes Gabriel Chaile exchanged silverware from three popular soup kitchens (mutual aid organizations to provide food for people in need) in Buenos Aires to brand new cooking utensils to shape his project...
© » KADIST
Adrian Villar Rojas
2012Based on historical prophecies and fantasy, the artist creates apocalyptic scenarios that posit an enigmatic world plagued by social, political, and environmental upheaval...
© » THEARTNEWSPER
Supreme court ruling concludes lengthy battle over Franz West estate Art market Museums & heritage Exhibitions Books Podcasts Columns Technology Adventures with Van Gogh Search Search Artist estates news Supreme court ruling concludes lengthy battle over Franz West estate The Austrian sculptor's art will go to his private foundation, represented by Gagosian, overturning previous decision granting ownership to West's widow and children Anny Shaw 18 December 2023 Share Franz West in his studio, 2009 © roessle A long-running inheritance row over the estate of Franz West, reportedly worth more than $50m, has finally been resolved after the Austrian supreme court last month concluded that all of the Austrian sculptor’s art should be donated to the Franz West Private Foundation, which is represented by Gagosian...
© » THE GUARDIAN
‘The more art I see, the broader my perspective gets’: a visual artist’s week with the National Art Pass | Me and my National Art Pass | The Guardian Skip to main content Skip to navigation Skip to navigation Paid content About Paid content is paid for and controlled by an advertiser and produced by the Guardian Labs team...
