« PRINTEMPS » BY ADEL ABDESSEMED REMOVED FROM HIS EXHIBITION AT THE MAC LYON

By Crash redaction

Adel Abdessemed, Printemps, 2013 © courtesy of the MAC Lyon

Having inaugurated his exhibition L’Antidote at the Musée d’Art Contemporain of Lyon last Thursday, Adel Abdessemed had not anticipated that one of his artworks would be the subject of such controversy. The cause? A video called Printemps which shows burning chickens, hung against a wall. The response on social media was so harsh that the Franco-Algerian artist decided himself, with the support of the museum, to remove the piece from the exhibition. Despite having explained that Printemps is a denunciation of violence, and in particular the one inflicted on animals, his message was not well received. As a known advocate for animal rights, Abdessemed would never hurt or put in danger any living creature through his art. The video was made in Morocco with special effects technicians who’ve worked in cinema. The flames we see are, of course, void of any danger.

We’ve recently had the pleasure to meet the artist who opens up about his activism for women’s rights and the concepts of his exhibitions. You can find the interview in our latest issue.