Alexandre Gérard

Alexandre Gérard was born in 1975, he lives and works in Marseille (FR)

“Alexandre Gérard’s work explores diversified meaning, both humorous and unsettling.”
Arnaud Labelle-Rojoux

“Our perception of things is partial and blurred, hence the need for constant decoding, which is more or less successful. I try in particular to express the opacity of many everyday objects, inasmuch as they are perceived literally (in the street, a shop sign with one or more letters missing becomes, for the distracted passer-by, a source of momentary hesitation). Alongside works that present isolated, mostly ready-made objects (usually documented through photographs, audio recordings or video footage), other pieces begin with the introduction of unfamiliar elements into public spaces, situations in which people are not used to reacting. The results of these experiments are generally captured on video. In “Queue” (5 minutes, 2000), for instance, I am filmed with a hidden camera standing in line at a bank, holding a glass pane under my arm. I pretend to accidentally drop it, and it shatters loudly on the floor. We witness the varied reactions of those present (startled jumps, heads looking to the ceiling, relief, jokes…) until the stir caused by the event fades and the line resumes its quiet order.

My interest in notions of doubt, hesitation, loss of control and shock has led me to catalogue common situations where mastery of codes and signs falters. These situations are presented as reenactments involving text, drawing and photography. I have also produced videos capturing the similar behavior of different people caught in some of these scenarios.”

Alexandre Gérard