DENISE AUBERTIN  (1933 – 2019)

Unsatiable reader and author of several manuscripts, Denise A. Aubertin has been producing « unpublishable » book-objects since 1969. Then, « in 1974, I made my first ‘cooked book’ (in the oven) with various kitchen ingredients. An act of derision, of subversion, but also a desire to create an unusual and marvelous object.” Jean Dubuffet writes on October 19, 1977: « Dear Alain Bourbonnais, I announced to you by telephone the kind of « books » that Denise Aubertin makes and in which intervene all kinds of collages and maculations, associated with texts. I find them very impressive and of a nature to interest you. I advised Denise Aubertin to show them to you. Below is her address… With kind regards. J.D. In 1978, it was presented to the Singuliers de l’art.  » Denise Aubertin’s « cooked books » were exhibited at the Maison Rouge in 2006 

Stéphane Mandelbaum (1961 – 1986)

Stéphane Mandelbaum was born on March 8, 1961 in Brussels into a family of artists. Suffering from severe dyslexia, drawing has been for him, from a very young age, a natural form of expression for which he shows an exceptional predisposition. An inexhaustible worker, he demonstrates an extraordinary thirst for knowledge in all artistic fields.

He draws from his literary, cinematographic and pictorial culture - but also from his family roots - the iconography which marks the beginning of his work. Fascinated both by the genius of his predecessors and by their often tragic and transgressive destiny, he represents Bacon, Picasso, Pasolini, Rimbaud, Pierre Goldman... The claim of his Jewish identity led him to draw Nazi dignitaries. 

During the last two years of his life, he drew inspiration from his daily life, populated by prostitutes, shady bars and mobsters.

In his “intimate work”, made up of countless A4 formats, he gives us his imagination, made up of travels, heists, exhibitions and compulsive enumerations.

Fascinated by transgression, weapons and theft, Stéphane Mandelbaum was unable to resist his demons. He was kidnapped and executed in December 1986 by his accomplices following the theft of a Modigliani which turned out to be a fake. He was 25 years old.

In such a short time, he left us a complex and abundant work. If his virtuosity is dazzling, it is through the power of representation, the strength of the subjects with which he confronts and his sense of appropriation of space that Stéphane Mandelbaum reveals all his originality. 

His work remained in the shadows for more than thirty years after his death. Today, through institutional exhibitions in Europe, the United States and Asia, through its presence in numerous prestigious private collections, it finally finds its place in the history of contemporary art.