Geography II is a “photo-painting” created in 1988 by Patrick Tosani and acquired the same year by the Centre national des arts plastiques. This work belongs to a set of seven images, each of which represents the surface of a drum and bears the singular stamp of the musician who played it. At the time, Patrick Tosani was interested in things rather than objects, and in “surfacing” reality as a way of expressing his intentions. We encounter here the idea of surface both in the skin of the drum and in the surface of the photographic image representing it. In 1989, Jean-François Chevrier featured this work in the landmark exhibition entitled Another Objectivity.
Born in France in 1954, Patrick Tosani made a name for himself in the early 1980s with work combining the heritage of the 1970s’ avant-gardes and the affirmation of the photographic medium as a mode of experimentation. The artist has continuously explored the photographic process, its potential as well as its limitations, and its relationship to reality, through series focusing on objects, bodies, items of clothing.
Patrick Tosani’s work is on view at the Théâtre de la Photographie et de l’Image in Nice until May 29, 2016. It will be followed by an exhibition at the Museo di Fotografia Contemporanea in Milan, which will be held until September.
Thanks to Pascal Beausse, head of the photographic collections, and to the teams of the Centre National des Arts Plastiques who have allowed this project to be carried out.
Coordination: Annabelle Oliveira, Communications and Information at CNAP. Assisted Zelie Davin, Responsible for acquisitions photography, video, audiovisual and new media Cnap.
Translation: L’Œil de la Photographie.
Each week you can find the presentation of a piece from the photographic collection of CNAP http://www.cnap.fr and L’Oeil de la Photographie. Available in French and in English
