Photos from Opening of Case Installation by Vincent Gagliostro

Last Thursday night was the opening of my partner Vincent Gagliostro's installation Case. It was a terrific night- the turnout of friends, art lovers and collectors, colleagues, and even two Eye Prefer Paris fans from the U.S.  packed the gallery from 6PM to 10PM. We all toasted Vincent with Champagne for his extraordinary and very personal installation that took over a year to produce. I purposely didn't look at most of the work before it was presented in the show because I wanted to be surprised. When I saw it before the day it opened, I was moved to tears. I was overwhelmed by the beauty, craft, detail, and humanity of the work but most of all I was moved by the vulnerability of baring one's soul. One of my favorite lines in the description of the show is " I fall in love with the falling in love.", which was so apparent as the installation is infused with romanticism. The portraits, videos, paintings, photos, boxes, and drawings convey love, longing, and obsession of personal icons and idols. But there was also play and humor in it with references to romantic songs and pop culture. I especially loved the set of 7 boxes filled with objets, snapshots, and hand scribbled notes placed on a long, wood table going down the center of the gallery.

Below again is the full information about the content of the show and gallery info. I hope you have a chance to see this powerful and beautiful installation.

Vincent Gagliostro:
(1)case
From October 21st to November 27, 2010
Films: FALLING 1&2  |  Painting. Drawing. Objects
Galerie NeC | 20 rue des Coutures Saint-Gervais Paris 75003
[email protected] |www. gagliostro.com
[email protected]

Click here for Google map of gallery location 

  ARTIST VINCENT GAGLIOSTRO TESTIFIES AGAINST HIMSELF IN HIS NEW INSTALLATION
(1) case is the title of Gagliostro’s “table of evidence” — a table — the vantage point from which we enter his new installation. The text we read as we enter the gallery clearly states what we are in for…
What is falling in love? He is a god in my eyes – the man who is allowed to sit beside you – he who listens intimately to the sweet murmur of your voice, the enticing laughter that makes my own heart beat fast. If I meet you suddenly, I can’t speak – my tongue is broken; a thin flame runs under my skin; seeing nothing, hearing only my own ears drumming, I drip with sweat; trembling shakes my body and I turn paler than dry grass. At such times death isn’t far from me. — (Sappho) 

Over time, employing the strategies similar to an investigative reporter/detective, Gagliostro gathers ‘evidence’ that delineates a landscape of themes and narrative that point towards the cause of, as he admits, to his behavior and actions and desires that define him as a gay man in society. The objects/
subjects on display here, self-introduced as admissible evidence — drawings, notebooks, photographs, documents, video,(with a noticeable representation of beautiful boys — frequent “prey to my nature”) expose his “compulsive desire to flirt with the subject as object and to fall in love with said subject.” Intern, and with self-referential and self-conscience poetic aspirations he objectifies his subjects. “I not only all in love with the subject as object but I fall in love with the falling in love. The human aspect pulls me in and the newly created object becomes the subject of my desire. The tension that is present is that the “objects” are human.” A series of portraits remind us of the time-honored tradition as muse as subject. Gagliostro’s unflinching honesty, a fessing up of sorts, his willingness to turn self-witness, along with a seeking to know himself — here goes beyond the mere confessional. He carries the burden of proof. Who is the real subject here? Gagliostro boldly and courageously speaks from the human heart, which for him, speaks to, and of, our shared human condition.

New York artist Vincent Gagliostro has done it all: he has successfully worked as an art director, graphic designer, and video artist. He’s also art directed two music videos by Prince (Diamonds and Pearls and Cream). Gagliostro’s first video installation, When Did I Forget, expressed the defining effect of his political activism on his work as a visual artist: Gagliostro was a founding member of ACT UP, a non- partisan group committed to helping end the AIDS crisis.  Five years ago, Gagliostro moved to Paris to
focus on drawing, painting and making films. He is at work on his first feature film, After Louie.

 

The "TABLE OF EVIDENCE" displays a series of speciman boxes, "EXHIBITS A-G.
 The objects on display inside the boxes are a "gathering of evidence" (in the manner of
an investigative reporter. Gagliostro zeros in on the cause of his behaviour, actions and
desires that define him as a gay man in todays society. It's about telling the truth.

 

  

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotteís professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com

Comments

[Lynn]

Wonderful gallery of photos. Very good!

[Jeanne]

You are fortunate to live with such talent and beauty!!

[Laurie]

OMG...congrats and kudos to Vincent....what an amazing show!!!!!! He must be thrilled...it all looks incredibly wonderful!
So glad he had a great turn out! His artwork is gorgeous, and, indeed, soul-baring. How impressive! How genius!

[Jayne]

BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE THE PICTURE OF YOU BOTH AND WILL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE SHOW IN A FEW WEEKS.

[Vanessa]

Sorry I missed Vincent's opening. It sounds like it was a great success. I'll be sure to visit the gallery while I'm in Paris - I arrive in two weeks. Can't wait. Hot chocolate??

[Kiki]

Even looking just at those 'dry' photos, I was moved to tears.... incredibly 'sensible' (dans le sens français), touching, raw and honest, close to the skin.... very wonderful!
You have a marvellous friend, congratulations to Vincent!
Kiki

[MadAboutParis]

SPECTACULAR - such personal work, I adore the specimen boxes. I hope that you are both VERY RELAXED now...can't wait to see you in 2011!
xx,
M

[Larry]

I sincerely wish I could have been there to enjoy the exhibition. Perhaps in May I can come by and see Vincent's work.

[Karen]

Oh, congratulations to Vincent. You look so proud in the photo. I sure wish I could attend.

[Yuriy]

Congrats to Vincent and you, Richard. I liked Vincent's art a lot. Katya did too :)