'Les temps changent...’, exhibition of the national commission for printed artworks

The Cnap national fine arts centre, in partnership with the Adra association for the development of and research on art libraries, presents the exhibition ‘Times Change…’ at the  Artothèque contemporary art centre of Caen, from 3 February to 6 April 2024. This exhibition invites visitors to discover the works of twelve artists awarded the National Commission for Prints and exemplifies the singularity of contemporary creation.

Initiated in 2023 by the Cnap in partnership with Adra and with the support of the French Ministry of Culture, ‘Times Change…’ (FR: Les temps changent…) commission encourages artist-creators within the visual arts to appropriate this proposal in the form of a mantra or an injunction so as to present a unique visual interpretation. The selected artists answer this call by affirming their belonging to the imagery and code of painting, photography or graphic art, and by exploring experimental research.

Like the previous national commissions in the realm of prints and multiples, Quotidien (2018) and Emanata (2021), the ‘Times Change…’ commission encourages encounters and exchanges between artists and fine artisans, reflecting contemporary aesthetics translating a diversity of gazes, perspectives and interpretations of the visible.

With 54 copies of each made, the 12 commissioned prints constitute a corpus of six hundred and forty-eight works created via various printing techniques (serigraphy, photogravure, pochoir, heat-sensitive-ink printing, risography, etc.) by thirteen studios perpetuating these traditional skills, while also favouring innovation, and scattered about France.

Conserved within the Cnap collection and those of the 35 art libraries belonging to the Adra network, these works further enrich a vibrant heritage. In essence destined to be widely distributed, these multiples are made available to cultural institutions and administrations, as well as to the general public as art-library users. This commission provides support to creators, artists and fine artisans, and disseminates their creations throughout numerous locations easily accessible to the public.  

Produced by the Cnap, a series of five videos shine a light on several printing techniques made available to the artists by the collaborating artisans. The five films spotlight these fine artistic crafts and exceptional skills, with some studios the last bastions of such precious expertise. These video capsules can be freely seen on the Cnap website, on its YouTube channel, and in the exhibition space.

Finally, to complement this national commission, the Cnap and Adra have co-produced a publication created by the graphic artist Line Martin-Célo. This booklet exists as a printed publication distributed by Adra, with a digital version also available for download via the Cnap website.

Other exhibitions for this commission will be hosted by the Adra network of art libraries, notably at the art library of Vitré in October 2024.