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Exhibition

TakeCareness - off-site

Solo show by Marc Etienne

May 12 — September 2, 2018, Public opening on Saturday May 12, 11AM
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Palais Longchamp, 13004 Marseille

Off-sit exhibition, as part of the Prix des Ateliers de la Ville de Marseille 2017 award.

TakeCareness is a term coined by the artist Marc Etienne, representing a series of works, including metal sculptures and plaster bas-reliefs, that evoke scenes of care, specifically focusing on key zones of the human body associated with well-being. By giving physical form to the English expression “take care,” Marc Etienne crafts a derivative of care that stems from the phrase itself. The malleability and smooth textures of the materials underscore the notions of restorative well-being, gentleness, and attentiveness to others.

In the Musée des Beaux-Arts, the artist brings his drawings to life through sculptures, using metal as an extension of the drawing process and bas-reliefs as a medium for imprinting images into plaster. Without a specific therapeutic agenda, Marc Etienne’s installation—deliberately placed in the museum’s circulation areas such as the entrance hall and landing—encourages visitors to pause, take time, and perhaps relax. The interplay of white and luminous tones, subtly disrupted by the acidity of green and purple hues in the cement, references alternative methods of experiencing pleasure. These colors nod to “Purple Drank,” a concoction of soda (green from Sprite), codeine, and a neuroleptic (purple), which induces euphoria and mimics the effects of alcohol without actually consuming it. This improvised drug is deeply tied to the hip-hop culture of the American South and the emergence of trap music* in the 1990s.
Marc Etienne has explored the musical and cultural movement of trap music in recent years, weaving its references into several installations.

* Originating from the Dirty South, trap music emerged in the early 1990s in the southern United States. The term “trap” initially referred to locations tied to drug dealing and the genre is characterized by prominent lyrical content about life in the ghettos, alongside the use of heavy bass and synthesizers.

TakeCareness is an invitation to contemplative engagement beyond traditional exhibition spaces, while still remaining within the confines of the museum. It is an installation where caring for oneself or others also manifests through the visual experiences proposed by Marc Etienne.

The Prix des Ateliers de la Ville de Marseille Award is presented every two years with every new session of residencies. The laureate artist is given the opportunity to show his work in one of Marseille’s public museums. Marc Etienne, 2017 laureat, presents TakeCareness, an installation conceived for the Fine Arts Museum of Marseille.