Daniel Templon’s avant-garde selection enchants the Château Labottière

Institut Bernard Magrez

It is a rather uncommon experience that awaits visitors travelling to the Château Labottière, home to the Institut Culturel Bernard Magrez. All around the classic design of this grand building, modern art seems to be integrated and literally planted within the décor. The exhibition is considered an homage to modern art and one of its major specialists. Indeed, connoisseurs have all heard of Daniel Templon, the Parisian gallery owner whose eye for new talents has been internationally recognized over the years. The famous dealer opened his first venue in 1966, at the tender age of 21, in Saint-Germain-des-Près, the heart of French culture and education, before moving to another artistic landmark in Paris, rue Beaubourg in the Marais district.

Institut Bernard Magrez

During his career, Daniel Templon first represented conceptual and minimalistic art with names such as Martin Barré, Christian Boltanski, Donald Judd, Joseph Kosuth and Richard Serra. Shortly afterwards, during the 1970’s, he introduced great American artists to the French public, such as Dan Flavin, Ellsworth Kelly, Willem de Kooning, Frank Stella and Andy Warhol. Many strong figures of the contemporary art world have been showcased at the Parisian gallery:  Ben, Daniel Buren, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Gérard Garouste, Keith Haring, Roy Lichtenstein, Claude Viallat and Helmut Newton. Nowadays, Templon owns three different venues -two in Paris and one in Bruxelles- and is an essential part of many leading art projects such as FIAC and ART BASEL.

 
Left : Jan Fabre, Chapitre XVI, 2010 Photo Lieven Herreman © Angelos bvba
Right : Philippe Cognée, Mexico 3, 2012-2016, Photo B.Huet-Tutti © Philippe Cognée 

The current exhibition in Bordeaux’ Château Labottière has been designed like a “portrait” of Templon’s history, featuring the selection of works done by five artists who are leading figures in his gallery and showcase the diversity of his selection: Jan Fabre, Yue Minjun, Pierre & Gilles, Philippe Cognée and Chiharu Shiota. Each of these artists whose backgrounds are unique, possesses a strong artistic identity and performs it through several technical approaches.

 
Left : Chiharu Shiota, Dress, 2011 © Chiharu Shiota Photo Sunhi Mang 
Right : Blue Sky and White Clouds, 2013 © Yue Minjun

The selection of such a variety of art forms certainly matches the desire of the Institut Culturel’s owner Bernard Magrez. The famous wine producer admits a lifelong passion for art, driven by his intense wish to collaborate with the people behind the artists who strive towards excellence. After traveling the world and crossing the path of many extraordinary artists like Bernard Buffet, Magrez confesses that he likes to be part of the creative process when enabling young artists to present their work. His cultural institute which is settled in the sumptuous Château Labottière, is therefore more than just a pleasant place to view, it is an essential artistic landmark, offering a different approach to art. As well as the perfectly scheduled spring exhibit, paying homage to Daniel Templon through the fascinating selection of works displayed in this marvelous landscape.