An editorial project by French artist Jean-Baptiste Farkas conceived for Switch (on Paper).
In 12 episodes that can be read or listened to, each chronicle looks at the particularity of subtraction as an aspect of how art and society relate. At how less, emptiness or destruction create meaning in the contemporary world.
Episode 1 – Signs of Degrowth (6’13)
Can a landmark piece of art be reduced to a “simple descriptive statement”? More generally, couldn’t everything be translated “into much smaller”? A challenge proposed by The Society for Conservation of the Present .(SCP). “Too big… and yet never big enough. That’s the paradox of modern life.” Small is beautiful.
Eliane Radigue - Transamorem transmortem
Must we archive the things we should rather forget? Is archiving a way to make something disappear? In these strange conjectures is where LACA (Los Angeles Contemporary Archive) and The Salvage Art Institute in the USA try to respond, without necessarily finding answers.
LES CHRONIQUES DE LA SOUSTRACTION (Subtraction Chronicles) were recorded in summer 2019 by *Duuu Radio in the extension of each text by Jean-Baptiste Farkas published by Switch (on Paper).
Direction and recording: Gaspard Collin and Martin Fauret for *Duuu
Studio *Duuu, July 2019
Jean-Baptiste Farkas Jean-Baptiste Farkas’ artistic practice questions the notions and status of the artist, the artwork and the place of exhibition. He involves everyone in completing precise tasks that take the shape of services whose underlying objective is to upset the established order: put part of a habitat out of service, slow down the workflow or even tell lies. His collaborative projects are known under the names IKHÉA©SERVICES (1998), Glitch, Beaucoup plus de moins ! (2002) et PRACTICES IN REMOVE (2015). Books: IKHÉA©SERVICES, 68 pages de passages à l’acte !, Zédélé éditions, 2004. Glitch, Beaucoup plus de moins !, Zédélé éditions, 2006. Des modes d’emploi et des passages à l’acte, éditions MIX, Paris, 2010. Le Tournant Hostile, e-Publication, ABM Distribution, 2016. Retours d’usagers, éditions autrechose, 2016. On Words, In Deeds, english book, mfc – michèle didier, Bruxelles, 2017