To commemorate the inauguration of its new reserve collections in Romainville in 2021, the Frac Île-de-France presents an exhibition project titled "Children Power," consisting of three parts centered around the theme of childhood. This project will be held across three venues: Le Plateau in Paris, the Château de Rentilly, and Les Réserves in Romainville. Its primary objective is to emphasize the crucial role of young audiences in the Frac's artistic endeavors.
At Les Réserves, the exhibition features a selection of works from the collection curated by children, along with an inaugural program of events. In anticipation of the official opening of Les Réserves du Frac in Romainville, a portion of which will be accessible to the public for regular exhibitions, the Frac Île-de-France invites children to choose artworks from the collection to be displayed in the initial exhibition marking the building's opening.
A Year 5 class from a primary school and a first-year class from a secondary school in Romainville have been entrusted with curating this first presentation of works in the public areas of Les Réserves. These classes are collaborating with the Frac's public service team, who assist them in the selection process, focusing on the theme of portraits and examining how the chosen pieces interrelate.
The Frac Île-de-France possesses various exhibition units within its collection, designed by artists to enable the presentation of artworks and the transformation of diverse spaces. These units have been acquired specifically to facilitate the exhibition of artworks in unconventional locations. As a public collection with a distinctive character, this collection will be showcased for the first time in the vacant spaces of the future reserve collection, activated with works related to the theme of childhood.
Children will activate these devices as part of their collaboration with the Frac's public service team. Notable examples of these devices include Fabrice Gygi's "La Vidéothèque Mobile" (1998), Didier Trénet's "Extra Muros" (2007), and Laurent Grasso's "Project 4 Brane" (2007).
Furthermore, musical performances based on works from the collection will be organized, involving groups of children and adolescents from seven conservatoires in the Est-ensemble area, namely Pantin, Bondy, Montreuil, Bagnolet, Noisy-Le-Sec, Le Pré-Saint-Gervais, and Romainville. These performances will activate musical compositions and scores by artists such as Cocktail Designers' "Le Kiosque Électronique" (2004), Pierre Huyghe's "Silence Score" (1997), Anri Sala's "A Spurious Emission" (2007), Société Réaliste's "Single Party Anthem" (2013), and Thu Van Tran's "Arirang Partition" (2009).
"Children Power" at Les Réserves offers a distinctive opportunity for children to actively participate in curating exhibitions, activating exhibition units, and performing music. This project showcases the Frac Île-de-France's dedication to engaging young audiences in contemporary art and celebrating the creative power of children.