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TOP: Poster for the exhibition
Idoles.
Held as part of the Bourgogne Tribal
Show.
TOP RIGHT: Coco Fronsac,
L’Anthropomorphique
Homme-Bélier de la série
Idoles, Chimères et Merveilles.
2019.
Gouache on antique photograph.
ABOVE: Coco Fronsac, Toi,
garant du monde vivant et
de la vie future devant le
palais de Jacques-Coeur de
la série Idoles, Chimères et
Merveilles. 2019.
Gouache on antique photograph.
ABOVE RIGHT:
Reliquary guardian fi gure.
Fang; Gabon. 18th century.
Private collection, Paris.
ART IN MOTION
selected for their power, originality, and origins, will be
presented in an installation especially designed for this
event. We also want our approach to inspire and give
free rein to the viewers’ imaginations.
T. A. M.: Any special favorites among the pieces you
selected?
C. C.: I love them all. They are all so unique, mysterious,
fascinating, and enthralling. They are all my “idols.”
One instance of love at fi rst sight, and a piece I could
say I have a particular fondness for, is the Chontal culture
male idol from Guerrero, Mexico, which dates to 1200–
400 BC and is from the Furstenberg Gallery in Paris.
Bourgogne and the Idols
BESANCEUIL—As we announced in our spring issue, the
Bourgogne Tribal Show is preparing an ambitious fourth
installment this year. Held once again in its usual bucolic
setting, it is opening itself to other art disciplines—
contemporary and modern art; medieval art; the classical
arts of China, India, and Japan; and Egyptian antiquities.
Material from these fi elds will complement the quality
works of African, Oceanic, and Native American art that
have been the show’s mainstay since its inception.
As always, the venue for the fair will be the estate of
contemporary art dealer Bruno Mory, located near Besanceuil.
It will be held from May 30–June 2, 2019, and an
exhibition intended for the general public will also be
on view in the Farinier building at the Abbaye de Cluny
through July 28. Titled Idols, it is the brainchild of wellknown
visual artist and tribal art enthusiast Coco Fronsac.
She was kind enough to take the time to answer a few of
our questions.
Tribal Art Magazine: What did you fi nd appealing about
the proposal to curate the exhibition associated with the
Bourgogne Tribal Show?
Coco Fronsac: I’d heard about the Bourgogne Tribal
Show for some time—this lovely event, far from the
capital and in an idyllic setting. Julie Arnoux of Gus
Adler et Filles, whom I have known for several years,
approached me about curating this show because she
appreciated my work.
The offer is very exciting, and I was delighted to get
it. It’s a marvelous project in a magical place, and the
knowledge that I would be working and collaborating
with great dealers, some of whom are also close
friends, completely convinced me of its merit. And who
among us lovers of great wine could resist the idea of a
weekend in Burgundy!
T. A. M.: What will the public that visits Idols
encounter?
C. C.: A selection of objects—and masterpieces—in
the sumptuous setting of the Farinier building of the
Abbaye de Cluny. The place is full of soul, and the
pieces displayed there will be exceptional works from
prestigious collections, be they Western, sacred, or
simply aesthetic. The focus will be on establishing a
visual and artistic dialog between the object, the visitors,
and the artworks created specifi cally for this exhibition.
My choice was to highlight idols—or at least the
notion we have of them—that inspire reverence, capture
attention, and trap the heart. All of these objects,