Le réel est l'impasse de la formalisation ; la formalisation est le lieu de passe-en-force du réel

The piece consists of sculpture of 10 elements, among them: a globe, a picture of a gorilla, a chair, scrabble letters, 3 glasses of black ink, a book whose title is illuminated by the beam of a 8mm projector, a pair of boots, etc. The display is a collection of selected objects chosen in response to the reading of a text by Alain Badiou (the first chapter of the seminar “Le réel est l’impasse de la formalisation; la formalisation est le lieu de passe en force du réel” from February 4, 1975). The elements are a visual way to question the transposition of an idea into reality. The challenge of the work lies in translating the speech of an artistic image, which itself generates speech. “For me the display of objects, is to provide support for a thought experiment, of a philosophy that “would return to the things themselves.” Here I associate these “things themselves” to concrete objects.” In this sense, the work may be considered “complete” on the day in which the philosopher will use this display as a possible image for his thought. This network of indices awaits new meanings and interpretations. Emblematic of the artist, this work is rhizomatic. Some elements of this display have indeed contributed to other works made thereafter. For example, the image of gorilla refers to a work entitled Purpose Monkey (2007), while the book Le Bonheur de Vivre presented as part of the display was the subject of a video shown at the Biennale in Lyon in 2007.

Benoît Maire’s practice exists at the intersection of philosophy and art, thought and matter. Through a mutable approach that combines painting, installation, furniture, and video, the artist establishes an allegorical universe that focuses on the sensorial experience of an artwork and the intrinsic qualities of objects. Often referred to as a visual philosopher, the physical form that his artworks take are inspired by a range of disciplines including history, history of art, philosophy, psychoanalysis, mathematics, geometry, and mythology. Probing distinctions between culture and nature, Maire’s work elaborates on concepts proposed by canonical theorists such as Lyotard, Agamben, Bataille, and Lacan.