L’Effet papillon, 1989-2007
From June 21 until September 13, 2008
Opening on June 20, 2008, from 6pm
Catalogue, in French, introduction by Véronique Bacchetta, texts by Véronique Bacchetta, Sylvie Boulanger, Lionel Bovier, Brian D. Butler (English and French), Philippe Cuenat, Thomas Hirschhorn, Christoph Keller (German and French), Hans Ulrich Obrist and Alexis Vaillant. 432 pages, 17,5 x 23,5 cm, offset printing on Munken Print Premium White paper, 115 g/m2, offset printing and hot gold foil stamping on Munken Print White paper, 300g/m2, for the cover, 61 color ill., 278 b/w ill. Graphic design : Schönwehrs, Geneva. Printing : Musumeci S.p.A., Quart (Aosta Valley), Italy. Publisher : Centre d’édition contemporaine, Geneva, June 2008. Distribution : JRP|Ringier, Zurich.
The catalogue will be presented at the Centre d’édition contemporaine along with posters by Schönwehrs, the figurines Les Pisseuses by Angela Marzullo (born in 1971 in Rümlang, Zurich; lives and works in Geneva) – edition given to the 2008 members of the association of the Centre d’édition contemporaine – and a soundtrack by Tommi Grönlund (born in 1967, lives and works in Helsinki).
The title of this book, L’Effet papillon, is used here as a metaphor for the free and uncontrolled propagation of ideas. It alludes to the often delayed effect of an action, a work of art or an exhibition, which sometimes becomes a reference for the general public as well as the specialists. This “effect” is mentioned in the conversation between Hans Ulrich Obrist and Véronique Bacchetta, published in this catalogue, in order to underline the recurring difficulty for an art space or a contemporary art exhibition of never being fully legitimized.
This publication tells, through its archives, the story and evolution of a particular institution – the Centre d’édition contemporaine –, relates its production and its artistic policy, and establishes its place, status and commitment in the field of contemporary art. The spanned period, 1989-2007, is situated long after the creation of the Centre genevois de gravure contemporaine (in the 1960s) which became, in 2001, the Centre d’édition contemporaine. It corresponds to a period during which the Centre opened and developed itself toward a contemporary art in fast mutation. Covering these nineteen years of activity, this book tries to illustrate and comment them, to catalogue and describe them in detail. It is organized in three parts. The first one brings together texts dealing either directly with the Centre as a reference point or, more generally, with publishing through analyses of its recent history – particularly that of the 1960s-70s –, of its different production and distribution strategies or, more directly, of personal experiences. At the center of the book, a section of colour photographs documents such exhibitions, critical choices and moments deemed crucial to the Centre’s journey and its program. The third part forms the factual side of this development, a catalogue composed of all the editions, exhibitions, events, collaboration and various invitations which, month after month, have formed the “biography” of this place. This segment is followed by a series of “Snapshots,” a kind of affective addition to the catalogue.
Published by the Centre d’édition contemporaine, Geneva, June 2008
