The Kitschiest Gnomes: A Brief Examination of the French Group Présence Panchounette's Activities, Disdain for Conceptualism, and Implementation of Gnomes (1969-1990)

Bibliographic Details
Main Author:	Cope, Katherine C.
Language:	English
Published:	University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK 2010
Subjects:	Art History Pr&233 sence Panchounette gnomes Kitsch readymades France
Online Access:	http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1273002518

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spelling	ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-ucin12730025182021-08-03T06:13:52Z The Kitschiest Gnomes: A Brief Examination of the French Group Présence Panchounette's Activities, Disdain for Conceptualism, and Implementation of Gnomes (1969-1990) Cope, Katherine C. Art History Pr&233 sence Panchounette gnomes Kitsch readymades France The artist collective Présence Panchounette of Bordeaux, France, made significant contributions to contemporary art in France from 1969 until 1990. Here I examine the history, the ideas, and the works of the group, and argue for Présence Panchounette’s contribution in making contemporary art more accessible to the general public. Within the last few decades, French centers for contemporary art have mounted exhibitions that celebrate the works of Présence Panchounette and its peers, yet little attention has been given to these artists in the United States. The group was among the forerunners of the appropriation movement in France that aimed to analyze the industrialization and commercialism of the 20<sup>th</sup> century. The Situationist International, Dadaists, and other historical avant-gardes influenced Présence Panchounette’s interest and participation in the appropriation movement and the group’s desire to appeal to the proletariat. Présence Panchounette practiced the détournement method of art making, which originated as a Situationist International technique. By the time Présence Panchounette disbanded, it had left giant plastic dwarves in Paris and Bordeaux, France, readymades such as a taxidermy deer head and weight bench with books, and the “chounette spirit.” This “chounette spirit” revoked any intellectual formulization of art works and led to a more casual and enjoyable art form without specialist meanings. I also examine Présence Panchounette’s use of garden gnomes. The group’s use of gnomes reinforces notions of kitsch and the common man, much like the rest of the group’s installation works, in order to appeal to an audience not steeped in historical art references. Présence Panchounette’s success is evident through the popularity of the group’s work among the common classes. 2010-07-30 English text University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1273002518 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1273002518 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection	NDLTD
language	English
sources	NDLTD
topic	Art History Pr&233 sence Panchounette gnomes Kitsch readymades France
spellingShingle	Art History Pr&233 sence Panchounette gnomes Kitsch readymades France Cope, Katherine C. The Kitschiest Gnomes: A Brief Examination of the French Group Présence Panchounette's Activities, Disdain for Conceptualism, and Implementation of Gnomes (1969-1990)
author	Cope, Katherine C.
author_facet	Cope, Katherine C.
author_sort	Cope, Katherine C.
title	The Kitschiest Gnomes: A Brief Examination of the French Group Présence Panchounette's Activities, Disdain for Conceptualism, and Implementation of Gnomes (1969-1990)
title_short	The Kitschiest Gnomes: A Brief Examination of the French Group Présence Panchounette's Activities, Disdain for Conceptualism, and Implementation of Gnomes (1969-1990)
title_full	The Kitschiest Gnomes: A Brief Examination of the French Group Présence Panchounette's Activities, Disdain for Conceptualism, and Implementation of Gnomes (1969-1990)
title_fullStr	The Kitschiest Gnomes: A Brief Examination of the French Group Présence Panchounette's Activities, Disdain for Conceptualism, and Implementation of Gnomes (1969-1990)
title_full_unstemmed	The Kitschiest Gnomes: A Brief Examination of the French Group Présence Panchounette's Activities, Disdain for Conceptualism, and Implementation of Gnomes (1969-1990)
title_sort	kitschiest gnomes: a brief examination of the french group présence panchounette's activities, disdain for conceptualism, and implementation of gnomes (1969-1990)
publisher	University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK
publishDate	2010
url	http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1273002518
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The Kitschiest Gnomes: A Brief Examination of the French Group Présence Panchounette's Activities, Disdain for Conceptualism, and Implementation of Gnomes (1969-1990)

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