The artist-exhibitionist

 
During a residency in East Asia (Japan and Taiwan 1999) I formalised the concept of the artist-exhibitionist.  I was using the international language – English – to communicate and so found it pertinent to play on the different meanings of the words exhibition and exhibitionist.

The artist exhibits work: an artist who exhibits himself as his work becomes an artist-exhibitionist. What are the means and desires that drive the artist to expose their body in a particular situation?  Furthermore, I would argue that all artists exhibit, or show something of themselves when exhibiting work. I use this term in order to focus on the responsibility of the artist.

Since 2002 I have developed an artists’ film programme at a cinema as an extension of my work on the artist-exhibitionist. This proposal is called the International Exhibitionist. Artists working in a variety of media are invited to participate. They are asked to choose the way they wish to exhibit themselves and their work in the cinema space.

Cyril Lepetit