The theme of identity, which has been the focus of contemporary art for over a decade, remains a complex concept that Emmanuelle Becker’s work explores relentlessly and with great relevance. The question of interiority, and what we see of it, is precisely the focus of her photographic practice.
The intellectually and plastically rich work of this Franco-American artist (and her dual culture is certainly worth considering here) questions the ambiguity of the concept. Right from its title, the Mirror of an Instant series challenges the familiar idea of identity as substance. For the artist, identity is merely a reflection (that of the mirror), a captured image that is not essence, but a fluctuating appearance through which interiority manifests itself, with all its attendant uncertainty.
What’s more, this reflection is as ephemeral as the moment itself. There is no permanence to be expected from the identity evoked by this series. Indeed, the fragmentation of representation, the articulation of parts, the splintering of the figure and the dismemberment of bodies deny identity any stability. Fragmentation, meticulously and rigorously displayed, counters the fantasy of individual unity. In this series, identity is constructed – deconstructed – reconstructed. It is no longer seen as a given but as a process, no longer as an origin but as a result, no longer as a substance but as a dynamic. Emmanuelle Becker emphasizes its fragility, its evanescence, perhaps its inconsistency.
Concerning the Unmasked series, it expands and delves further into the concept of identity as a manifestation, shifting its focus from questioning its enduring nature to scrutinizing its authenticity. Beneath the motif of the mask resides a profound exploration of deceptive facades and roles, delving into the illusions and mirages of an identity treated as a game—a fabricated construction akin to an avatar.
The masks in Unmasked tell us what it’s like to be us, at a time when the roles we take on as self-expression are becoming increasingly widespread. Like the personalities we invent for ourselves, these sumptuous ornaments, disturbing and inspired creations of the artist, at once magnify and conceal us, protect and expose us, affirm and deny us. It is this truth of masks that Emmanuelle Becker reveals to us, the truth about the enigma within, of an identity that vacillates, and yet contributes to the construction of our being.
Patrice Galiana
The Enigma Within – Exploring Identity in the work of Emmanuelle Becker
Curated by Caroline Wiart and Patrice Galiana
Gallery La Moulinette
81 bis, rue Lepic 75018 Paris
From March 1st to 16th
Opening March 1, 6-9pm
Opening hours :
Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 8pm
Information
Galerie la Moulinette
81 bis, rue Lepic 75018 Paris
March 01, 2024 to March 16, 2024
