Reiffers Art Initiatives - "La prochaine fois, le feu" Exhibition

As a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna under the tutelage of Daniel Richter, Alexandre Diop anchored his artistic approach in painting and sculpture, with a particular interest in the materiality of the elements used, most often found in his surrounding environment. The artist explores the theme of African identity, which follows in the footsteps of great artists including his mentor Kehinde Wiley. Diop’s work has been showcased in exhibitions in Italy, Austria and the United States, and in several international collections as well.

Through an exhibition at the Acacias Art Center, this book reveals a rich plastic dialogue between a young talent from the French art scene and an international figure of contemporary art. It also relates, through a series of texts and photographic archives, the creative process of a young autodidact artist, who through large format materializes his work in multiple techniques.

"Guy Bourdin: The Portraits" is a selection of the most personal works ever shown in Paris since his death in 1991, showcasing rare images produced between 1950-1980. Curated by historian Shelly Verthime, the exhibition gathers more than 150 of the artist's photographs from an intimate and personal perspective. His early black-and-white works, largely influenced by surrealism, often overlooked, sit alongside his most iconic and timeless photographs, as well as Super-8 films from his personal collection. The exhibition highlights the central role that Surrealism played in the photographer's work. Influenced by his close ties to Man Ray, Guy Bourdin's early portraits lay the foundation for his surrealist language and approach, which would eventually become one of his stylistic signatures.

Defying convention with his mysterious, hypnotic and Surrealist take on fashion photography, he invented bold, often appealing images with a unique modern aesthetic. Finally, the exhibition sheds light on Guy Bourdin the fashion film pioneer, through several Super-8 films taken from his personal collection, which he shot himself during photo shoots. Primarily a creator of images, Guy Bourdin (1928-1991) continued to learn and explore, from his first portraits to his advertising images, in which each person plays an essential but never overwhelming role. His works continue to feel modern to this day.