EXPO CHICAGO is proud to present Yvon Lambert as an exhibiting gallery from Paris for our September 2012 debut.

Yvon Lambert presents an exhibition titled La Décadence. This group exhibition features the new productions or earlier pieces of five artists, including Gardar Eide Einarsson, Douglas Gordon, Loris Gréaud, Francesco Vezzoli and Cerith Wyn Evan.

Douglas Gordon Bootleg (Bigmouth), 1995 Courtesy lost but found, Yvon Lambert Paris.

Gardar Eide Einarsson. Installation view, Courtesy Yvon Lambert Paris. Crédit photo: Didier Barroso.

“Decadence is the grand moment where a civilisation becomes exquisite.” -Jean Cocteau

The notion of decadence doesn’t appear to be a straightforward one, capable to define the state of a society. Decadence reminds us of the ruins of Ancient Rome, evoking a sense of downfall and sentiments of decay from the observation of the world’s decline. What seems to be common to most empires in decadence is a loss of the sense of the real in favour of formal rules that end up serving as new reality.

Douglas Gordon, Self Portrait of You + Me and Me + You + You + Me + Me + You (03), 2011. Prints and burned print, Smoke and Mirror Courtesy lost but found, Yvon Lambert Paris. Photo credit: Didier Barroso.

Douglas Gordon, Self Portrait of You + Me and Me + You + You + Me + Me + You (03), 2011. Prints and burned print, Smoke and Mirror Courtesy lost but found, Yvon Lambert Paris. Photo credit: Didier Barroso.

In such a period of difficulties our world seems to amplify the perception of decadence. Hardly a day goes by without media scandals, polemics or moralizing invectives. Our world relies on strong doubts and profound questionings: Wherefore are we heading? A downfall?

It would appear that in our time there’s no society that’s decadent, but that there’s decadence lingering in society instead. It’s through the prism of politics and social issues that Yvon Lambert Gallery presents La Décadence.

Loris Gréaud, A world of absolute relativity, 2012. Installation including 20 plexiglass chairs, 3 molds of horse, snake and sheep viscera on white aluminium pedestal coated with resin, neons, sound (loop). Courtesy Yvon Lambert Paris. Photo credit: Didier Barroso.

Francesco Vezzoli, Self-portrait as Helios vs Selene by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 2012. Courtesy Yvon Lambert Paris. Photo credit: Didier Barroso.

This exhibition is on view through February 25, 2012.

Yvon Lambert is located at 108, rue Vieille-du-Temple, 75003 Paris. For more information, call +33 142 710 933or visit their website.

Emmaline Niendorf is an Integrated Marketing Associate with Otherwise Incorporated.