Profane Magazine Celebrates its 16th Edition with an Exhibition
To celebrate the launch of its sixteenth issue, Profane gathered all its volumes out of storage and gave them a new life in the form of an exhibition. To this end, the editorial team summoned curator and artistic director Lucas Djaou, who has put together this retrospective of the magazine, featuring a selection of works and collections published over the last eight years. The idea behind this project is to showcase the magazine from a different angle, thereby broadening the scope to include a wider range of viewpoints and increasing the number of encounters and opportunities.
Profane’s journey began in 2015 at the instigation of two lovers of the arts and of encounters, Charlotte Halpern and Bertrand Houdin. Who is profane? The uninitiated. It is them who the art magazine, which is published twice yearly, wishes to showcase. Profane places the spotlight on those who like to create or collect, far from the conventional world of art. The derogatory image of amateurs is abolished. Throughout the pages of the magazine, amateurs become insiders. They take centre stage, a new light is shed on their practice, and an inquisitive eye embraces it, devoid of criticism and always driven by a desire for encounters. Passion above all, the impulsive practice of art removed from any moneymaking incentive, is highlighted.
Thanks to an army of keen contributors who surround the duo, each new issue sees the magazine grow and gain a strong identity. By word of mouth, Profane’s vision spreads and new “amateurs” are discovered. Like archaeologists, the contributors search, rummage and discover. Amateurs are everywhere, all around us. Sometimes they are a chance encounter, a stranger or a neighbour, a close friend or a family member. Some of them are still around, others have only left a trace of their creations. They all share a vital obsession with creating or collecting in their own unique way, regardless of trends. They seldom see themselves as artists or collectors, despite their sometimes breathtaking achievements and remarkable collections. This exhibition, which is divided into two sections, retraces Profane’s journey over eight years through a selection of designers featured in the magazine.
Photos: Ayka Lux
