The trilogy Power, which Christian Lutz started ten years ago, proposes a unique vision of the stakes involved in the exercise of power. Protokoll (2007), on political power, goes behind the scenes of the activities of a ministerial delegation of the Swiss Confederation. Tropical Gift (2010), on economic power, describes the industry of gas and petrol, with the final section, the controversial In Jesus’ Name (2012), looking at the influence of religion. The work in its entirety is shown at the Boutographies 2015 for the first time in France.
Today, In Jesus’ Name doesn’t exist in its initial form: 19 photos, a third of the work, were banned by the courts. All copies of the book were recalled a few days after its publication. The forbidden photos have nonetheless been exhibited, but masked with black bands on which are written the complaints as designated by the plaintiffs’ lawyer, and which prevent them being recognised. A fourth power has insinuated itself into the œuvre: the judicial power, raising fundamental questions as to the power of images, real or imagined.
Christian Lutz was born in Switzerland in 1973 and lives in Geneva. He is a graduate of the Ecole Supérieure des Arts et Image « Le 75 » in Brussels. His work is distributed by the Agence Vu.
EXHIBITION
In part of Boutographies 2015
Christian Lutz, Guest of Honour
The Trilogy of Power
4 – 26 April, 2015
La Panacée
14 rue de l’école de Pharmacie
34000 Montpellier
France
CONFERENCE
On April 8th, 2015 at 5pm
“Christian Lutz et le procès fait à In Jesus Name : image photographique et croyance”.
With Christian Lutz, Marie-Christine Sordino, Christian Maccotta, Art Director of Boutographies
Faculté de droit
Amphi 001 Bat2 rdc
14 rue du Cardinal de Cabrières
34000 Montpellier
France
On April 8th, 2015 at 6.30pm
Visiting exhibition with photographer.
