Lecture - The Affichistes, Collecting the City's Skin

This new lecture series, titled "The Contemporary Era: Images of Homo Oeconomicus," delves into the observation, questioning, and sometimes denunciation of consumer society by contemporary artists. It highlights the transformations of the modern world through works that capture the spirit of the times and its social, economic, and cultural changes.

The Affichistes, key figures of Nouveau Réalisme, made their mark in the 1960s by focusing on walls covered with posters—ephemeral surfaces layered with advertisements, political flyers, and pin-up images. Raymond Hains, Jacques Villéglé, Mimmo Rotella, and François Dufrêne collected these urban fragments, peeling back layers of posters to create artworks. Their creations, like the city's skins, reveal remnants of a pivotal era between economic growth and tensions linked to decolonization.

Led by the committed voice of Catherine Koenig, these lectures offer a unique perspective on our time. They intersect art, economics, media, popular culture, and social engagement through emblematic works. Available in person or via videoconference (registration required), they invite reflection on contemporary issues through the lens of artistic creation.