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16th Lyon Biennale: manifesto of fragility at Fagor Factories

December 21, 2022

Artists: Mohamad Abdouni, Gabriel Abrantes, Amina Agueznay, Remie Akl, Julio Anaya Cabanding, Giulia Andreani, Mali Arun, Dana Awartani, Clemens Behr, Nina Beier, Ailbhe Ní Bhriain, Lucile Boiron, Phoebe Boswell, Sarah Brahim, Leyla Cárdenas, Julian Charrière, Jean Claracq, Clément Cogitore, Nicolas Daubanes, Jose Dávila, Buck Ellison, Eva Fàbregas, Mohammed Al Faraj, Philipp Fleischmann, Léo Fourdrinier, Chafa Ghaddar, Olivier Goethals, Pedro Gómez-Egaña, Marta Górnicka, Nicki Green, Joana Hadjitomas & Khalil Joreige, Klára Hosnedlová, Nadia Kaabi-Linke, Néstor Jiménez, Annika Kahrs, Özgür Kar, Moham- med Kazem, kennedy+swan, Michelle & Noel Keserwany, Tarik Kiswanson, Nadine Labaki and Khaled Mouzanar, Hashel Al Lamki, Richard Learoyd, Hannah Levy, Randa Maroufi, Lucy McRae, Jesse Mockrin, Filwa Nazer, Eva Nielsen, Toyin Ojih Odu- tola, Hans Op de Beeck, Organon Art Cie, Daniel Otero Torres, Abdullah Al Othman, Daniel De Paula, Aurélie Pétrel, Sarah del Pino, Joanna Piotrowska, Christina Quarles, Omar Rajeh and Mia Habis, Erin M. Riley, Sara Sadik, Cemile Sahin, Ezster Salamon with the Jeune Ballet of the CNSMD Lyon (under the artistic direction of Kylie Walters), Ugo Schiavi, Markus Schinwald, Sylvie Selig, Seher Shah, Jeremy Shaw, Muhannad Shono, Taryn Simon, Kim Simonsson, Valeska Soares, Studio Safar, Young-jun Tak, Lucia Tallova, Philipp Timischl, Salman Toor, Evita Vasiljeva, Puck Verkade, WangShui, Munem Wasif, James Webb, Hannah Weinberger, Raed Yassin, Zhang Ruyi, Zhang Yunyao

Exhibition title: 16th Lyon Biennale manifesto of fragility

Curated by: Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath

Venue: Lyon Biennale, Fagor Factories, Lyon, France

Date: September 14 – December 31, 2022

Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artists and ©Lyon Biennale

Curated by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, the 16th Lyon Biennale manifesto of fragility proceeds with the announcement of its curatorial framework, participating artists and institutional partners that will come together to realize the Biennale’s multifaceted exhibitions and programs.

CURATORIAL FRAMEWORK

Seeking opportunities for dialogue across historical, geographical and socio-political distances, manifesto of fragility will facilitate innovative, multidirectional possibilities for creative cooperation. These collaborative processes, which will already begin to unfold in the months leading up to the Biennale’s September 2022 opening in Lyon, will yield 50 new artistic commissions and productions within a decentralized program that will materialize across numerous sites. Many works will be adapted to the unique architectural contexts in which they will be shown, including several large-scale immersive installations. The Biennale will expand beyond its customary venues in Lyon into locations throughout the city in order to welcome the participation of the broadest possible public.

manifesto of fragility is structured along two distinct axes that function as complimentary conduits for the Biennale’s consideration of fragility: A horizontal, geographical line carries the contributions of 87 contemporary artists from 39 countries engaging with the topic of fragility in a wide range of artistic practices. A vertical, temporal line will deliver more than 100 historical artworks and objects spanning two millennia on loan from several diverse collections in Lyon and abroad. The Biennale posits a point of intersection between the two axes to initiate a focused exploration of fragility within the context of the dazzling yet tumultuous 1960s era of Beirut’s so-called Golden Age, featuring 230 artworks by 34 artists and more than 300 archival documents from nearly 40 collections worldwide. This section of the biennale acquires added poignance in Lyon, given the city’s historical entanglements with Beirut centred around the 19th century silk trade, and the establishment of the French Mandate in 1920.

ARTISTS

The artists taking part in the 16th Lyon Biennale bring diverse approaches to the focal theme of fragility that represent varied understandings of our current state of global uncertainty. The Biennale appeals to a broad coalition of international artists to share in building a nuanced patchwork of narratives illuminating moments of resilience in the face of social, political and environmental upheaval The artists gathered around the Biennale embody various faces of fragility, some in the issues they tackle, and others in the materials they use. What their works have in common is the potential to inform our thinking about generative paths of resistance.

manifesto of fragility emphasizes the importance of individual encounters in gaining insight into the circumstances that shape our contemporary realities. Many of the artists share an awareness of the architectural and historical specificities of their surroundings. This sensitivity allows for rigorous points of contact between coexisting identities, communities and histories that can activate dynamic societal changes. Seeking collaborative actions that can bridge divides and build communal responses to global conditions, the 16th Lyon Biennale engages an expansive network of artists practicing in cities across the globe, including: Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Basel, Beirut, Berlin, Bogota, Brussels, Cape Town, Casablanca, Copenhagen, Cork, Dhaka, Dubai, Geneva, Ghent, Guadalajara, Helsinki, Jeddah, Lagos, Lisbon, London, Los Angeles, Lyon, Madrid, Marrakesh, Marseille, New York, Oslo, Paris, Riga, Riyadh, San Francisco, São Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Stockholm, Strasbourg, Toulon, Vienna and Warsaw.

INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS

The 16th Lyon Biennale’s partnerships will create opportunities for multidimensional perspectives on institutional practices. Broadening the conversation to include a heterogeneous mix of institutions that often operate in similar yet distinct fields, the Biennale addresses a number of pressing issues related to the role of cultural institutions in an increasingly fragile world. By connecting institutions that act as custodians of artworks from different periods and geographies, the Biennale triggers imaginative resonances between the works of the participating contemporary artists and historical works, objects and artifacts. With expanded points of reference and additional resources for the creation of new works, these co-operations will engender more intricately and tightly interwoven networks of communication and support. This will benefit artists in their search for new, expansive terrains of inquiry.

The 16th Lyon Biennale will act as a nexus for the diverse publics of its different institutional partners. By appealing to a wide range of cultural interests, the Biennale will bring various audiences into dialogue with artistic positions that they might be less acquainted with. Additionally, the Biennale’s off-site venues embody unique architectural styles from different eras in Lyon’s history, creating compelling synchronicities between the artworks on display and the architectural and historical contexts. These ancillary sites generate dynamic possibilities for new encounters.

Through a combination of global, historical and contemporary perspectives, the assembled artists, institutions, and publics join the 16th Lyon Biennale to propose a manifesto of fragility that repositions vulnerability at the heart of a comprehensive global panorama of human perseverance.

Foreground: Dana Awartani, Standing by the Ruins of Aleppo, 2021. Courtesy of the artist and Athr Gallery With the support of Diriyah Biennale Foundation, Athr Foundation, Kraft els, Mat-Eco Recycling. Background: Clemens Behr, Ruines Flottantes, 2022. Commissioned for the 16th edition of the Lyon Biennale, Usines Fagor. With the support of ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, Goethe-Institut Lyon and Diatex. With the kind collaboration of the City of Givors, the Lyon Auditorium, Lugdunum – Roman Museum and Theaters, Lycée Sainte-Marie – La Verpillière © Adagp, Paris, 2022. Photo: Blaise Adilon

Clemens Behr, Ruines Flottantes, 2022, Wood, fabric, aluminum, led panels, lights, original sound and video. Commissioned for the 16th edition of the Biennale de Lyon, Usines Fagor. With the support of ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, Goethe-Institut Lyon and Diatex. With the kind collaboration of the City of Givors, the Lyon Auditorium, Lugdunum – Roman Museum and Theaters, Lycée Sainte-Marie – La Verpillière © Adagp, Paris, 2022. Photo: Blaise Adilon

Clemens Behr, From the series Ruines Flottantes, Auditorium | Lyon, Sainte-Marie | La Verpillière, Cité des Étoiles | Givors, 2022. Photographic prints. Commissioned for the 16th edition of the Biennale de Lyon, Usines Fagor. With the support of the ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, the Goethe-Institut Lyon. With the kind collaboration of the City of Givors, the Lyon Auditorium, Lugdunum – Musée et Théâtres Romains, Lycée Sainte-Marie – La Verpillière © Adagp, Paris, 2022. Photo : Blaise Adilon

Dana Awartani, Standing by the Ruins of Aleppo, 2021, Clay. 16th Biennial of Contemporary Art of Lyon. Usines Fagor. Courtesy of the artist and Athr Gallery. With the support of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, Athr Foundation, Kraft els, Mat-Eco Recyclage © Blaise Adilon

Léo Fourdrinier, Mind and Senses Purified, 2022, exhibition view, 16th Biennial of Contemporary Art of Lyon. Usines Fagor. Courtesy of the artist

Gabriel Abrantes, Les Extraordinaires Mésaventures de la Jeune Fille de Pierre, 2019, Film, 8K, 20’00”, color, 5.1 dolby sound. Courtesy Galeria Francisco Fino. With the support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation – Delegation in France. Production Les Films du Bélier. Coproduction Artificial Humors. 16th Lyon Biennial of Contemporary Art, Usines Fagor © Blaise Adilon

Hans Op de Beeck, We Were the Last to Stay, 2022, Installation in situ, various materials. Commissioned for the 16th edition of the Biennale de Lyon, Usines Fagor. With the support of Galleria Continua, the Krinzinger Gallery, the Wemhöner Collection, Pia Gazil, Carrion Génie Civil Maçonnerie, Mat-Eco Recyclage. Adagp, Paris, 2022. Photo: Blandine Soulage

James Webb, A Series of Personal Questions Addressed\nto a Roman Coin, 2019, Roman Silver Denarius dated 70 CE, speaker, amplifier, media player, audio. Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Imane Farès. Artist : James Webb, Voice : Sylvaine Strike. 16th Lyon Biennial of Contemporary Art, Usines Fagor © Blaise Adilon

Julio Anaya Cabanding, Theodore Chassériau, Ange étreignant la croix, 2022, pictorial intervention on the wall. Commissioned for the 16th edition of the Biennale de Lyon, Usines Fagor. Courtesy of the artist. With the support of Acción Cultural Española (AC/E). 16th Lyon Biennial of Contemporary Art, Usines Fagor © Blaise Adilon

Julio Anaya Cabanding, Théodore Chassériau, Le Christ au Jardin\ndes Oliviers, 2022, Acrylic painting on abandoned cardboard. Commissioned for the 16th edition of the Biennale de Lyon, Usines Fagor. Courtesy of the artist. With the support of Acción Cultural Española (AC/E) © Amande Dionne

Klára Hosnedlová, Sound of Hatching, 2022, Epoxy, stainless steel, cotton thread, metal cart, metal tubes. Commissioned for the 16th edition of the Biennale de Lyon, Usines Fagor. Courtesy of the artist and Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler. With the support of the Goethe-Institut Lyon, the Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler gallery, Barrisol © Blaise Adilon

Michelle & Noel Keserwany, Les Chenilles, 2022, Video installation, sound, 29’00”. Commissioned for the 16th edition of the Biennale de Lyon. Fagor factories. Coproduction Dewberries Films and La Biennale de Lyon. With the support of KADIST. With the kind collaboration of SILK ME BACK © Blaise Adilon

Mohamad Abdouni, I Feel Only Fear (and recollection of similar sentiments), 2022, Installation in situ, various materials. Commissioned for the 16th edition of the Biennale de Lyon, Usines Fagor. Courtesy of the artist. With the support of ATC © Blaise Adilon

Mohammed Kazem, series of 6 paintings Even the Shade Does not Belong to Them, Acrylic and ink on canvas. 16th Biennial of Contemporary Art of Lyon, Usines Fagor. Courtesy the artist and Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Youth of the United Arab Emirates, the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, Alserkal avenue, Isabelle van den Eynde Gallery © Blaise Adilon

Nadia Kaabi-Linke, Le chuchotement du chêne, 2022, Installation in situ with oak branches and leaves and sound, transducers, cables and amplifier. Commissioned for the 16th edition of the Biennale de Lyon, Usines Fagor. Courtesy of the artist. With the support of the Goethe-Institut Lyon, the Office National des Forêts © Blaise

Nicolas Daubanes, Je ne reconnais pas la compétence de votre tribunal!, 2022, Scale 1 model, wood, cardboard. Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Maubert. With the support of ATC. With the kind collaboration of Marc André. Commissioned for the 16th edition of the Biennale de Lyon, Usines Fagor © Adagp, Paris, 2022. Photo: Blaise Adilon

Organon Art Cie, Le fantôme du Bataillon de la Belle de Mai, 2022, Installation in situ. Commissioned for the 16th edition of the Biennale de Lyon, Usines Fagor. With the support of IKEA, ATC, Gerflor. Organon Art Cie entrusted the scenography of the exhibition space to Margaux Moulin and Louise Caron, two students of ENSATT © Blaise Adilon

Pedro Gómez-Egaña, Virgo, 2022. Commissioned for the 16th edition of the Biennale de Lyon, Anciennes Usines Fagor. Courtesy of the artist and Zilberman Gallery, with the support of the Office of Contemporary Art / OCA Norway, Zilberman Gallery © Blaise Adilon

Randa Maroufi, Les Intruses series, 2022. Color photograph, print on baryta paper, aluminum frame, Dibond collage, Optimum Museum plexi. Courtesy of the artist. Works co-produced by the Maison populaire de Montreuil within the framework of the photographic commission of the Department of Seine-Saint-Denis of the documentary chronicles of Seine-Saint-Denis, and financed by the Department of Seine-Saint-Denis. 16th Lyon Biennial of Contemporary Art. Fagor factories © Blaise Adilon

Randa Maroufi, Bab Sebta (Ceuta’s Gate), 2019, Video, stereo sound, color, 19’00”. 16th Biennial of Contemporary Art of Lyon. Usines Fagor. Courtesy of the artist and PARIS-B. Production Barney production & Monfeuri Production © Blaise Adilon

Rémie Akl, I Made You Dance, 2022, Video installation, sound, 17’57”. Commissioned for the 16th edition of the Biennale de Lyon, Usines Fagor. With the support of the MKS Foundation © Blaise Adilon

Sara Sadik, Ils finiront dans des ravins, 2022, Installation vidéo multi-channel, son, 10’32”, inflatable en PVC, print on lino. Commissioned for the 16th edition of the Biennale de Lyon, Usines Fagor. With Émile-Samory Fofana. With the support of Jameel Arts Centre, Pernod-Ricard Foundation. With the exceptional support of Trampoline, Association de soutien à la scène artistique française © Blaise Adilon

Sarah Brahim, Soft Machines / Far Away Engines, 2021, 8 channel video installation, 10’00”, sound. 16th Lyon Biennial of Contemporary Art. Fagor factories. Commissioned by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation © Blaise Adilon

Exhibition view. Left: Leo Fourdrinier, Dogs Monologue, 2017. Courtesy of the artist. Right: Sarah Brahim, Who We Are Out of the Dark, 2022. 16th Lyon Biennial of Contemporary Art, Musée d’histoire de Lyon – Gadagne © Blaise Adilon

Sarah Brahim, Who We Are Out of the Dark, 2022, Series of cyanotypes on fabric. 16th Biennial of Contemporary Art of Lyon, Musée d’histoire de Lyon – Gadagne © Blaise Adilon

Sylvie Selig , series of drawings and embroideries on fabric. 16th Lyon Biennial of Contemporary Art, Usines Fagor. Courtesy of the artist with the support of Art Services Transport © Blaise Adilon

WangShui, Hyphal Stream (Isle of Vitr∴ous), 2022, Oil on aluminum. Commissioned for the 16th edition of the Biennale de Lyon, Usines Fagor. With the support of the Hight Art gallery. With the kind collaboration of Enersens © Blaise Adilon