1 March–8 May 2012
Ecole européenne supérieure de l’image
Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l’image
121, rue de Bordeaux, 16000 Angoulême, France
Resulting from a joint decision by Angoulême and Poitiers to unite their resources and create a regional school, EESI – Ecole européenne supérieure de l’image is subsidised by the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the Regional Council of Poitou-Charentes and the two municipalities that host its facilities.
The school put the emphasis on exploring the relations between thought, criticism, the production of visual works and research. The pedagogical project is implemented by a team of theoreticians and artist-teachers, accompanied by assistants, media librarians and technicians, all involved in various aspects of the contemporary arts. Perspectives are further broadened by workshops, seminars, lectures and visits by outside professionals and experts.
By encouraging experiment and awareness of new developments in all the arts (music, cinema, literature, performing arts, etc.), as well as the dialogue with other fields of knowledge (science, cultural studies, human sciences), the different components of EESI teaching programme, from the first degree to the postgradute program on Documents and Contemporary Art, offer students and budding artists an environment and resources to learn and produce.
AMERICAN EXPORTS
AMERICAN EXPORTS, first monographic exhibition of David Kramer in France, features a selection of drawings and paintings as well as an installation specially created for the exhibition.
Sabrina Grassi-Fossier, general director of EESI, has given the opportunity to students to get involved in the realization of David Kramer’s installations during a workshop with him, but also to set up the works at the Cité.
“I can completely understand the love that many around the world, including the French, have for American culture. Americans have left an indelible image in the minds of foreigners when it comes to Music, Film and Art. For this project I wanted to have the students come together and build something that was uniquely American, and yet I believed they had never witnessed for themselves in person, but somehow understood intimately from American Film. I showed the students two films, Pulp Fiction and Goodfellas, two classic films in which portions of the plot turned in American Diner Restaurants. Places so familiar to Americans but often not visited by tourists.
I asked them to help build and design such a place, down to all details, based on this imported knowledge.
For myself I worked in a similar fashion. I have often been fascinated by Mt. Rushmore, the monument to four American Presidents, that I have known all of my life, but have never been to and seen in person for myself. American Exports is an experiment in looking at things that we all, French and Americans, can know intimately, but only through some external experience. An experience delivered to us through media, that we accept and include in our lives and dreams moving forward.”
—David Kramer
David Kramer was born in 1963 in New York city, where he still lives and works.
Scenography: Yann Grolleau with the help of Carine Klonowski, Marine Vergne Figliolini, Guillaume Berrut, Benjamin Brault, Roméo Julien, Felix Jutteau, Camille Mazaleyrat.
This exhibition has been realized in partnership with La Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l’image, the Gallery Laurent Godin.
The history of the EESI Prize :
1996 – José Muñoz
1997 – L’Association
1998 – Daniel Goossens
1999 – Chris Ware
2000 – Marc-Antoine Mathieu
2001 – David B.
2002 – Carlos Nine
2003 – Nicolas de Crécy
2004 – Francis Masse
2005 – David Prudhomme
2006 – Martin Tom Dieck
2007 – Richard Mc Guire
2008 – Ben Katchor
2009 – Kiriko Nananan
2010 – Jochen Gerner
2011 – Dominique Goblet
