Michel Nedjar - animo.! [Eine Publikation des Museum Gugging ; Museum Gugging, 31.5.2008 - 22.2.2009 "michel nedjar - animo.!"; Kunstmuseum des Kantons Thurgau, Frühjahr 2009

It aims, rather, to give an impression of the artistic path he has followed up to date. His ideas,fantasies, opinions and finally his oeuvre have been shaped by his life and reflect his priorit ies in life.In December 2007 I visited the artist in connection with the final selection of works for his exhibition in the Gugging Museum. Furthermore, an interview was planned with the artist. The artist Sylvia Kummer accompanied me to translate. She always carries her video camera with her because she is working on a long-term identity project called "who are you" . Michel Nedjar has a rather critical view on art historians. But conversing with a fellow artist, he was prepared to speak openly about his working method, feelings and emotions.Her questioning before camera put him into such a good mood that he ended up talking about his life, his art and his experiences for five hours all together. The result was a spontaneous, authentic video comprehensively reflecting his thoughts and actions. This interview forms the basis of the text, which you can read below. It sums up the artist's words during the interview, allowing the reader a glance into the artist's world and introducing the background of his art. The art histor ian Markus Landert offers another view of the artist Michel Nedjar: that of a spectator. Markus Landert is director of the Thurgau Art Museum, where the exhibition will be held after its presentation in Gugging.Most important, however, are Michel Nedjar's works. They represent a selection of all the essential periods of his work. And they are to invite the onlooker to visit the exhibitions himself and enjoy the originals. When Ifirst sawworks by Michel Nedjar three decades ago, Iwasdeeply touched from the start. His painting work in particular exerted a strong fascination upon me. With his bare hand and sometimes with the help of a pressing iron - in order to introduce chance - he drawsthe 'hidden' outof himself, ashe puts it. The archaic,the original reminds me ofthe roots of artistic endeavour. Roots like they could be found in tribal art thousands ofyears - and up to afew generations ago. Nedjar is a child of our time and subject to all influences. Yet his creations are not influenced by present dayartistic tendencies.He refusesany kind ofacademism. Although he does love museums and art, he still finds his models in the past. of their morbid The artist's early "dolls" took some getting used to on my part because appearance. But after a while their initially deterring effect wore off. and now they have a special place.which Itry to establish through the cover ofthe book. Ihavemet Michel Nedjaron many occasions at various exhibitions in Europeandthe USas well asin the HouseofArtists. Nedjar hasbuilt astrong connection to the Gugging Artists. andwhen JohannHauserdied,I receivedadrawing by Michel Nedjarofacrossin honourof Hauser. whom he held in great esteem. JeanDubuffet's support through early purchases, which took him to the Centre Georges Pompidou in quick succession,did nothingto change hiswork or determination.Hisriseto the arguably most important French artist alive, whose works are still considered art brut, wasfollowed by an international career in the same field Front Matter....Pages 1-9 michel nedjar, wer bist du?....Pages 10-35 michel nedjar....Pages 36-48 Back Matter....Pages 49-207 Johann Feilacher [editor] Includes Bibliographical References (p. 201-202) Parallel Texts In English And German.