Arts & Culture: Le French May 2013

KEYPAD | LE FRENCH MAY SPECIAL

A

MODERN

FRANCE TRACING THE ESSENCE OF LIBERATION 要談論近代史上的法國，「解放」絕對是不能錯過的關鍵詞。從法國 大革命中拿破崙以「自由、平等、博愛」為口號解放人民，到Coco

Chanel以男裝長褲解放婦女，這些身份和身體上的解放，始終不及思想 上的解放來得重要。上世紀20年代的法國，正好見證了各式各樣藝術流派 與文化主義的誕生，百家爭鳴，難怪「法國五月」今年亦以「回到 年代」為主題，讓大家一嘗「被解放」的滋味。在如此壓抑的社會當下， 這未嘗不是一種積極的示範吧？ When it comes to contemporary history of France, the French’s distinct liberal society is one to take note of. From Liberté, égalité, fraternité – the French Revolution motto by Napoleon on the fight for liberty, equality and fraternity to Coco Chanel spearheading the emancipation of women wearing men’s trousers are just a few cultural movements that liberalise one’s identity and image. Yet, none of these movements trump that of liberalising ideology. The 1920s marked the rise of a booming artistic and cultural wave in France. It is no wonder Le French May celebrates the Roaring Twenties as this year’s theme by letting everyone have a taste of what the essence of liberation felt like. In times of current societal unrest, this could be an awakening to remind us why there is dispute in the first place.

Te x t / A n t o i n e t t e Ta n g , L i l i a n To n g

118

Art / JTF

Photo Credit / Courtesy of Le French May

119

KEYPAD | LE FRENCH MAY SPECIAL

「 ean

octea 是

如 的

及 oco 、為

作

和 法國的20年代， 為了

一次

的不同樂

，

。

「 大 樂、

中，身兼

octea ，

狂年代」 帶來的

時

、 的藝術

Ann e

，大

對、美食、文學

人、小說 是

Le

師及

都

Folle 力

，

生活中

是

於是成了不

人的

的「

演等多

的 ean

了由

身

是

arthele

之一。

高

。

， ean ，他的 多

20

人 望

octea 都是 巴

，他

過藝術 了不

他的 社會

及

等

後來者，

屆的。」法國Arna d

年「法國五月」

藝 術 大 師 A n d y Wa r h o l 個「

的

了從不同地方如

y如是說，而

，正好說明 要

狂年代 hanel，都

的

節目之一

」，其中更展出 的 ean

狂年代」在藝術

及

octea 上的

。

Les Années Folles, also known as the Roaring Twenties, marked

“Jean Cocteau is the per fect icon of this period. Indeed,

a golden era in France back in the early 20s. In order to put the

he looked into literature, painting, music and cinema to

traumatic past of World War One behind, many people found

create a new “language” for ar t and societ y. He, together

solace by occupying their lives with fun, music, cuisine, and

with his friends like Coco Chanel, wanted ar t to reflect

literature. Among these modern ar tists, the multi-talented poet,

the changes happening in societ y, mixing influences

novelist, designer and director, Jean Cocteau happened to

and taking inspiration from ever y where including Africa

grace the world of ar t during that era.

and Asia. They deeply influenced many groundbreaking creations of the following years, and this exhibition will therefore present t wo por traits of Cocteau by Warhol, which inherited a lot of Cocteau’s influence, a brilliant sentiment to cultural impact of the Roaring Twenties.” said Arnaud Bar thelemy.

120

121

KEYPAD | LE FRENCH MAY SPECIAL

走出博物館的藝術 從

主

政

和，

從

，人們對藝術的熱情 arthele

y說

及古

主，不管法國社會如何 ，

是有

「藝術是法國人生活的一 等，不

看到它們的 都是

和

然一成不

的，

會在博

，Arna d

，藝術品如

館展出，大

。在法國，藝術學

以及

所以法國在

來都是藝術

上

、

可以在城 藝術有

和

的 文化的

地。」 作為客

香港的

五月」

出博

人 ， Arna d 館，讓更多人

目「

藝術展」

國五月」 藝術

ar thele

以

會在中環

地廣

展覽，如「塞西 西五

巴

及 」大

y

觸藝術。

年更帶領「法國 年，

出香港在澳 廣

了

節

舉行，「法

等戶外地方舉行現代 藝術展及「法比

」等。 外，

Stretching the Boundaries of Art Beyond Museums

待的

巴

狂

Even with the progressive changes in political idealism, from

國駐港總領事館

monarchy to democracy, there is one thing that never changes

懷

一

有

應

多年

」。這個

集

本地

團 heatre

。而被「

」

for the French people – the passion for the ar ts.

香

On the growing ar ts industr y in France, Arnaud Bar thelemy

20年代法國人

於

points out that “it is a French specificit y to consider Ar t as

Arna d

y

的情人

、

ar thele

樂、喜 oir

為中產 的一生

狂年代」的

情人

的 天的現代

港式 ，

法式情 年

等來

了 ，

一

。 20年代的有

文化的內

not only in museums, but also in palaces of France. Instilling

In addition to the celebration of the Roaring Twenties, the Consulate

culture industr y.”

傳

他說

「

why France is rightly perceived as a major actor of the ar ts and

傳。」是的，

不同

sculptures and antique furniture are presented to the public

internationally reputable ar ts institution and ar t courses. That is

是

於一身，由法

辦，

的法國電 及

「

an integral par t of culture and daily life. Visual ar ts, painting,

ar ts education and training in France is ver y common in many

大不同，因為

這個「

就是法國藝術

。

General of France in Hong Kong and Macau has collaborated with Hong Kong Theatre Noir by put ting up a burlesque show called “Cabaret des Années Folles”. The combination of exuberant music, comedy and dance of the Roaring Twenties showcases Hong Kong’s

Being new to Hong Kong’s ar ts scene, Arnaud Bar thelemy has

local humour with a pinch of Parisian st yle. On the other hand, as

been planning to reach out to a wider audience by expanding

Hong Kong’s Financial Secretar y John Tsang has famously claimed

Le French May beyond the French museums this coming year.

that watching French films were par t of the lifest yle of the middle

Besides the highly buz zed about Napoleon and the Decorative

class, a magnificent array of modern French film like The Lover, L a

Ar ts held in Macau, Le French May will be exhibiting several ar t

Vie en Rose and Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsk y will be screened

works at outdoor spaces, including Cécile Bate’s perspective-

at the festival. These films pay tribute to the iconic French phrase

def ying monochrome installation at Central’s The L andmark and

Carpe Diem, where people from the Roaring Twenties fer vently seize

Fabien Merelle’s Pentateuque at Statue Square.

the day to pursue passion and excitement in life.

When asked about dif ference bet ween the 20s and today, Arnaud Bar thelemy proclaims “ today’s world, in a way, star ted in the 1920s.

Our modernit y is in line with this period, emphasized and accelerated by the power of the new media.”

Indeed, the inheritance of France’s historically rich ar ts and culture has evidently inspired many contemporar y masterpieces of today.

M r. A r n a u d B a r t h e l e m y

f r e n c h m a y. c o m 122

123