RKG “Salon des Refuses”

press release

Salon des Refusés

Over 1500 artists

Various media

30 July, 2022 - ongoing

PRESS RELEASE

For the eleventh anniversary Robert Kananaj Gallery decided to highlight a project that includes more than 1500 makers of unique individual pieces. Conceived as a social commentary, with unknown and anonymous artworks collected over the years and piled in a not-for-sale installation,  whose casual appearance tempted visitors to pick up individual pieces and ask "How much is this?'' only to learn these were not to be touched and could not be purchased.

After reflection, upon reopening after lockdown we decided to let the viewers touch and purchase from the installation. This growing collection of more than 1500 unique pieces by unknown artists is RKG's “Salon des Refusés”.

Pieces become “refusés” for different reasons: by individuals that made or owned them, or myself who is showing them, rejected by the artist trying something different, or succeeding generations to the original owners, by changing taste or circumstances.

More than a century ago, the original Salon des Refusés was created in protest against that epitome of status, the annual Paris Spring Salon of the French Academy, where prizes and fame were awarded.  Following that liberation from the French Academy, the Refusés became the new benchmark of status. Institutions around the world apply the same model of building and investing around status; individual artists and institutions use this as a measure of success. In contrast, and long overdue, RKG's Salon des Refusés says Enough - Status is overrated!

Institutions' and galleries' approach to art is didactic; viewers come and see a scholarly display of emphasis on one or another particular form of art-making, dictating where how and what to see. You have to be an insider, or have something explained to get it. The exclusivity marginalizes, therefore contributes to sterilization of the art environment.

At this project you don't have to have it explained. You are invited to make it work for you from the individual point of view. Art, being a way of living, is anything but a didactic exercise. The only status resides within art-making, and the viewer in conversation with the project and individual pieces, with little say by the gallery.

The stage within this salon is shared by every individual piece, just as each individual person is part of a city; it becomes what one makes of it. The project morphs as the city does with individuals, reflecting the commodifying times we live in.The whole world holds you with one gadget; so does this overwhelming accessible quantity of objects of art  in one space. It slows you down, simultaneously invites and pushes you away; meantime the connection doesn't drop..

RKG's Salon des Refusés is about the visitor and art. Pieces with little chance to become part of institutions of the status-building kind, have taken over the gallery space. We may look down on this invasion, or be tempted by it. A successful individual in whatever walk of life doesn't seek status, as excelling and becoming are unique for everyone. Here the refused are given status by the status-less, and so the Salon des Refusés of status-seeking has come full circle. Receiving is giving.

In addition, the exhibition “Times of Reflection” of sculpture and installation by Robert Kananaj remains open for viewing daily from 1 to 6 p.m..

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