La Recherche
de L’Oeuvre Absolue

Solo exhibition, 2024
Villa Arson, Nice (France)

Curated by Vittorio Parisi
Where to begin our presentation of La Recherche de l’Œuvre Absolue (The Quest of the Absolute Artwork), CANEMORTO’s first exhibition at Villa Arson?

Probably with the story it tells. That of the businessman, banker, commander and, above all, illustrious occultist who gave his name to the villa: Pierre-Joseph Arson. Before becoming First Consul of Nice under the Sardinian restoration, ‘Commander Arson’ had made his mark in another curious way. For several years, he paid a substantial annual allowance to the Polish mathematician and philosopher Josef Hoëné-Wroński, who promised to reveal to him the secrets of the Absolute. This is the better-known part of the story, said to have inspired Honoré de Balzac to write La Recherche de l’Absolu (The Quest of the Absolute), in which the hero, Balthazar Claës, supposedly serves as  Pierre-Joseph Arson’s literary alter ego.

There is another lesser known, perhaps even hidden, story—one whose details CANEMORTO will reveal without asking for anything in return, except an act of faith. CANEMORTO are here to unveil the secret of the Absolute Artwork, a work able to captivate audiences from all corners of the  world and every era. They believe only Pierre-Joseph Arson possessed the secret to its power. To lay claim to it, the artists have explored the most obscure corners of the Villa, desecrated graves, and pushed alchemy to its very limits.

Haters will say this part of the story is false, an amusing piece of fan fiction at best. But CANEMORTO have never attached much importance to the line between truth and fiction. The only thing that matters to them is the will of Txakurra, the dog-shaped divinity they follow and the inspiration behind all their artistic endeavours, whether in the street or the studio, on wall or canvas, CANEMORTO’s “trine paintings” are a divine gesture, both ironic and strange, spontaneous and brutal, demanding the utmost devotion and profound contemplation.

To tell the story of La Recherche de l’Œuvre Absolue, CANEMORTO have created an artistic and initiatory journey in two parts: a short film and a cycle of paintings – or more precisely, a cycle of serigraphic monotypes that also function as paintings – that will illuminate every detail of Villa Arson, a space abounding in stories and secrets, both luminous and dark.

Vittorio Parisi


WATCH THE TRAILER

Video filmed and edited by Marco Proserpio
Written and performed by CANEMORTO
Audio recording, audio mixing and original music by Matteo Pansana
Screenprint assistance by Arturo Amitrano (56fili)

Photographs by  JC Lett / Villa Arson Nice





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