Contemporary art in Lyon: BF15 celebrates its 30th anniversary with the exhibition "Stay with" by Béatrice Balcou

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of BF15, an iconic contemporary art space in Lyon, Perrine Lacroix reflects on the spirit of this unique venue, born from the vision of " a group of friends who wanted neither a museum nor a commercial space ." Thirty years later, this gallery on the Quai de la Pêcherie remains true to its initial ambition: to offer visibility to lesser-known and experimental artists, while staying attuned to the local scene. " BF15 is a space that accommodates all kinds of proposals, always focused on what might emerge rather than what already exists ," explains the director.

To mark this anniversary, BF15 is hosting the exhibition "Stay With" by artist Béatrice Balcou, known for her sensitive approach to the care of artworks. " Béatrice pays particular attention to how we handle the artworks, how we care for them ," emphasizes Perrine Lacroix. The exhibition will include two intimate ceremonies, limited to 35 people, with no recording or photography: " There will be no record of these ceremonies. It's really about being present and attentive. " A choice true to BF15's philosophy: exploring our relationship to time, space, and creation.

More details in the video:

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The full transcript of the program with Perrine Lacroix:

Hello everyone, welcome to the 6-minute show, the daily program from the Lyon Capitale editorial team. Today, we're going to talk about culture, specifically contemporary art, on the occasion of BF15's 30th anniversary. This is the space dedicated to contemporary art on the Quai de la Pêcherie, in Lyon's 1st arrondissement, on the Quai de Saône, opposite the Saint-Paul district and Vieux Lyon. To discuss this, we welcome Perrine Lacroix, artist, director, and artistic curator of BF15. Hello Perrine Lacroix, thank you for joining us in the studio. Let's get straight to the point. What exactly is BF15?

So, BF15 is a potato, a potato that goes with all kinds of recipes. And that suits us perfectly, since we are precisely a space dedicated to contemporary art that accommodates all kinds of proposals.

How did this space come about? We understand that it's a very open space. We'll get to the general idea, but first, could you just tell us its history? It's the 30th anniversary of the place. What is its origin?

Originally, 30 years ago, it was a group of friends who weren't necessarily artists or curators. They were journalists, printers, designers, and they wanted a space that was neither museum-like nor commercial. At the time, there weren't many of them, so they created BF15 to invite artists to make more experimental proposals.

Things we didn't see, offerings we didn't necessarily find in the city's major cultural centers. In Lyon, I don't know if there were many spaces like that at the time?

There weren't many, no.

Simply put, has the proposal evolved over time? Is the BF15 today the same as it was in the 1990s?

In fact, I find BF15 quite faithful to its initial aim, which is to avoid a set direction and instead remain constantly attuned to what might emerge rather than what already exists. Most of the invitations are extended to artists with little or no visibility, with a particular focus on the local scene.

These are artists mostly from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, roughly?

Not only that, but it is very important for us to represent the Rhône-Alpes scene.

And how do you choose them? We understand that it's extremely open, that you want to take a step back from what we see elsewhere; I imagine there are no strict criteria. Is it based on encounters, on what you discover? Are you, in a way, a space that's always on the lookout for new proposals?

The connections happen in several ways. Recently, we launched a call for projects for all artists with a connection to the region, specifying that the selection was made for those with little or no visibility. Otherwise, it's me, through my research and travels: I see a lot of things, I meet many artists, I visit many studios. It's really a process of staying informed and making connections.

It's a process of monitoring and networking, indeed, that takes place through your profession. Could we talk a little about the exhibition opening in mid-November, entitled "Stay With" by Béatrice Balcou? What's on display? Who is Béatrice Balcou?

Béatrice Balcou is an artist who pays particular attention to artworks and how they are handled and cared for. I felt it was important, for the 30th anniversary, to invite her to demonstrate how essential caring for artworks and artists is for us today. The exhibition opens on Friday the 14th, and two ceremonies are planned for the occasion. These are true rituals where Béatrice cares for a piece of art. I suggested she look through the BF15 archives, and she chose a work we produced over the past 30 years. It remains a secret for now, and she will use it as the focus of a ceremony. These ceremonies will be sold out, with only 35 people attending each time.

And without the possibility of filming or taking photographs?

Yes, there will be no record of these ceremonies. It's really about being in the present, being fully present. This is an important concept for BF15: being in the here and now. With each invitation, I ask the artists to reflect on this idea of ​​an event anchored in a specific time and space.

This idea of ​​an event anchored in a defined, closed time.

And in a space, yes. Why are we presenting this work today? Why are we inspired to show it now? These are questions I ask myself as a curator, but also with the artists. This takes on its full meaning with Béatrice right now.

That'll be the last word; we're already up to the six-minute mark. Just so you know, you have in your hands publications that recount the history of BF15, with all the exhibitions inside. It's a beautiful book. We don't have time to present them in detail, but you're showing them: they can be found at BF15, Quai de la Pêcherie. Which issue number?

11 Quai de la Pêcherie.

11 Quai de la Pêcherie. Thank you for watching this program. More details on Lyon's cultural news can be found on the website lyoncapitale.fr . See you soon.