André Robillard - November 28, 2014 through April 19, 2015
In 1964, André Robillard decided to "make something of his life": he set about assembling various objects taken from waste bins to come up with his first rifles. At the age of eighty-three, this creator of Art Brut continues to produce works in the vein of those that inspired Jean Dubuffet to include several specimens in his own collection. Combining salvaged materials and carved wood, for fifty years now Robillard has unflaggingly constructed rifles, as well as airplanes, sputniks, and animals. He also continues to produce many drawings in colored pencil or felt-tip pen with, as his subject matter, war, aerospace, the animal world and sports.
The first solo show by the Collection de l'Art Brut devoted to André Robillard's creations highlights his capacity for experimenting, for seeking out new approaches by varying as much his subjects as his supports. This vast retrospective, featuring 130 pieces exclusively from the Lausanne museum's holdings, together with a selection of photographs, archival documents and films, pays tribute to one of the last "historic" creators of Art Brut still alive today.
Art Brut has played a major role in the artistic recognition bestowed upon André Robillard's oeuvre. On the one hand, having first discovered Robillard's rifles thanks to Dr. Paul Renard, Jean Dubuffet was inspired to add several to his own collection. And on the other, Robillard's works went on display as part of the Lausanne museum's Permanent Collection right from its opening in 1976. A year later, the museum's first director, Michel Thévoz, sent Robillard a postal card depicting his 1964 rifle. This highly delighted the creator, inspiring him to go on working non-stop: he thus sought to "kill misery" and "change his life."
Exhibition Curator: Sarah Lombardi
Director of the Collection de l’Art Brut
Presentation of André Robillard by Sarah Lombardi
About Art Brut Around the World in the medias:
The first solo show by the Collection de l'Art Brut devoted to André Robillard's creations highlights his capacity for experimenting, for seeking out new approaches by varying as much his subjects as his supports. This vast retrospective, featuring 130 pieces exclusively from the Lausanne museum's holdings, together with a selection of photographs, archival documents and films, pays tribute to one of the last "historic" creators of Art Brut still alive today.
Art Brut has played a major role in the artistic recognition bestowed upon André Robillard's oeuvre. On the one hand, having first discovered Robillard's rifles thanks to Dr. Paul Renard, Jean Dubuffet was inspired to add several to his own collection. And on the other, Robillard's works went on display as part of the Lausanne museum's Permanent Collection right from its opening in 1976. A year later, the museum's first director, Michel Thévoz, sent Robillard a postal card depicting his 1964 rifle. This highly delighted the creator, inspiring him to go on working non-stop: he thus sought to "kill misery" and "change his life."
Exhibition Curator: Sarah Lombardi
Director of the Collection de l’Art Brut
Presentation of André Robillard by Sarah Lombardi
About Art Brut Around the World in the medias:
- 24heures, 29 november 2014
- La Liberté, 29 november 2014
- swissinfo.ch, 27 novembre 2014
- timeoutswitzerland
- Télérama, 10 décember, 2014
- RTS2, "la tête à l’envers, 13 décember 2014
- Hyperallergic review, 13 décember 2014
- RTS1, "vacarme", 7 january 2015
- International New York Times, 14 january 2014
- masdearte.com, 2 january 2014
- ticino7, january 2015
- La diagonale de l'art (blog from Libération), 8 april 2015
- L'Oeil, mai 2015
Practical information
Dates
november 28, 2014 - april 19, 2015
Opening reception
Thursday 27 november 2014
6pm - Collection de l'Art Brut Lausanne
8:30pm - Théâtre de Vidy Lausanne
Exhibition curator
Sarah Lombardi, director of the Collection de l'Art Brut
Publication
André Robillard, (French/ English), directed by Sarah Lombardi, Lausanne/ Milan, Collection de l’Art Brut/ 5 Continents, 2014, (160 pages, 168 ill.), incl. a DVDAccessibility
The exhibition is not accessible to people with reduced mobility.Free guided tours
November 29 at 11amJanuary 17 at 2pm
March 21 at 2pm
online booking, within the limits of the seats available.
On September 6 and October 4, tours for the public are scheduled at the same time as the Young Public workshops.
Young public workshop (ages 6-12)
Fee: 10.- per child
January 17 at 2pmMarch 11 at 2pm
March 21 at 2pm
online booking, within the limits of the seats available.
Exhibition activities album
For youngsters ages 6 to 10Offered free of charge, together with a box of colored pencils.
Guided tours
Upon request for groups and classes: in French, German, English and Italian. Free guided tours for teachers (duration 60 min)
Thursday 4 december 5pmThursday 15 january 5pm
online booking, within the limits of the seats available.
Accessibility
The exhibition André Robillard is not accessible to people with reduced mobility.