The McMaster Museum of Art

Christos Dikeakos

Patisserie Duchamp/Puis-je fumer
27 January - 26 March 2011

 

Image - Christos Dikeakos, C D avec M D Puis-je fumer, 2008 graphite pencil and

charcoal on paper; 54 x 75 cm Courtesy of the Artist

 

This exhibition, conceptualized and created by Christos Dikeakos, combines drawing, collage, photography, and sculpture, which unpacks Dikeakos' 40-year interest in the work and thoughts of French-American artist Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968).  The parallel subject is smoking—as social behaviour, its cultural dimensions and implications—but the objective is neither to celebrate nor demonize. Rather, Dikeakos channels the narcotic and erotic aspects of a now socially unacceptable habit through Duchamp, metaphor, visual indiscretion and the play of words. 

 

Exhibition Publication with essays by Christos Dikeakos, Robert Belton and Jane Rankin-Reid.

Print version available on site.

 

Smoke gets in art’s eyes

Review by Jeff Mahoney, The Hamilton Spectator, February 16, 2011

 

Installation Shots (MMA Blog)

_____________________________

 

Christos Dikeakos was born in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1946, and moved to Vancouver at age ten, and where he continues to live and work. Dikeakos studied fine art at the University of British Columbia, and has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions since 1969, in Canada, the U.S.A., Europe and Australia.   His work is represented in the collections of the National Gallery of Canada, Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, Vancouver Art Gallery, Mendel Art Gallery, MOCCA Toronto, the Morris and Helen Belkin Gallery at UBC, Surrey Art Gallery, Canada Council Art Bank, and the Vorres Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens.

 

Images - Christos Dikeakos, from left to right:  Rauchschwaden (cloud of smoke), 2008, charcoal on paper; 76 x 56 cm; detail of “ephemera” vitrine;  Installation view, Museum London, summer 2010, Foreground: Cigar Butt, 1997, mahogany wood, mounted on antique bentwood chair and plinth. cigar.

Courtesy of the Artist

 

List of Works in Exhibition:

 

Drawings   Sketch for Ashtray, 2008 graphite pencil on paper;  28 x 22 cm   C D avec M D Puis-je fumer, 2008 graphite pencil and charcoal on paper; 54 x 75 cm   L.H.O.O.Q., 2008 charcoal on paper; 105 x 105 cm   Nature Mort, 2008 graphite pencil on paper; 91 x 97 cm   Eros c’est La Vie, 2008 graphite pencil on paper; 107 x 111 cm   Rrose Selavy et Eros c’est la vie, 2008 photo vinyl study for drawing; 30 x 21 cm   Rauchschwaden (cloud of smoke), 2008 charcoal on paper; 76 x 56 cm   Torture Mort, 2008 charcoal on paper; 76 x 56 cm   From Gray’s Anatomy…proposal for Tobacco Harm Reduction Unit, 2010 graphite on paper with photos  of “Perfect Seal jars” on vinyl;  76 x 56 cm

Paintings on MDO sign board   Fresh Bankers 10 cents, 2009 one shot sign paint on MDO board, edition of 2; 102 x 122 x 2 cm   Self Portrait with pipes; “Le Semainiere” a week’s worth, 2010 one shot sign paint on MDO board, edition of 3; 42 x 42 x 2 cm   Defence De Fumer et Charger, 2010 one shot sign paint on MDO board, edition of 3; 30 x 38 x 2 cm   Defence De Fumer et Charger (with Gitanes art work), 2010 one shot sign paint on MDO board,  edition of 3; 61 x 81 x 2 cm

Photographic work    The 12 minute cigarette, 1966/67 silver print; 34 x 27 cm   Dust Breeding (Forgery), 1969 silver print; 27 x 35 cm (in distressed vintage frame)   Cigar Ash, 1994/2009 inkjet photo print, edition 1/3; 54 x 54  cm   Monte Christo’s Alpha, 1994/2009  inkjet photo print, edition 1/3; 60 x 292 cm   Hotel Parque Central Havana, 2009  inkjet photo print, edition 1/3; 72 x 95  cm   Che après René Burri, 2009 inkjet photo print, edition 1/3; 45 x 45 cm Urn with remains of the ashes of C. Dikeakos Monte Christo cigar,  March 17th 1994, 1994 inkjet photo;  48 x 37 cm

Sculptures   Inframince (Text of Marcel Duchamp’s poem Espace), 2009 vinyl text; 231 x 145 cm with blue vinyl chair; 85  x 41  x 40 cm and ashtray stand; 80 cm high.   Cigar Butt, 1997 mahogany wood, mounted on antique bentwood chair and plinth cigar:  61 x 28 cm diameter overall size; 110  x 40  x 46 cm   Cigar Butt 2, 1997 mahogany wood, paint, with white wooden column  cigar: 56  x 20 cm diameter overall size: 110 x 46  x 40 cm   Endless (column), 1970/1997   Comprised of approximately 90 cigar boxes, installed to 3.9 meters—floor to ceiling

 

 

 

Clamshell Portfolio
“Patteasserie” Duchamp après que Christos Dikeakos pâttissier, 1987/2008
edition 1/3
Portfolio of 20 inkjet photo collages on watercolor paper;
Boxed in a linen clam shell box with silver print photo on the cover; 43 x 55 x 5 cm 
36.1         “Patteasserie” Duchamp après que Christos Dikeakos pâttissier,  (frontispiece); 51 x 41 cm
36.2         Paris air;  41 x 51 cm
36.3         Beautiful Veil Water; 51 x 41 cm
36.4         Nude descending a staircase number 1 with woman walking downstairs; 51 x 41 cm
36.5         Nude descending a staircase number 2; 51 x 41 cm
36.6         The Bride stripped bare by her bachelors even; 51 x 41 cm
36.7         L. H. O. O. Q.; 51 x 41 cm
36.8         D’art –Object; 41 x 51 cm
36.9         Dulcinea; 51 x 41 cm
36.10       Virgin number 1; 51 x 41 cm
36.11       Bride; 51 x 41 cm
36.12       Belle Halene Eau de Voilette; 51 x 41 cm
36.13       Cemetery of Uniform and Liveries; 51 x 41 cm
36.14       Portrait of a chess player; 41 x 51 cm
36.15       Virgin number 2; 51 x 41 cm
36.16       Nine Malic Moulds; 51 x 41 cm
36.17       VIEW magazine; 51 x 41 cm
36.18       A passage of the Virgin to the Bride; 51 x 41 cm
36.19       Draft Piston with Bride; 51 x 41 cm
36.20       The Large Glass collage; 51 x 41 cm

 

Marcel Duchamp works and related material

 

Marcel Duchamp (French-American 1887-1968)
de ou par MARCEL DUCHAMP ou RROSE SELVAY; Boîte-en-Valise, 1966-1967
Series F (an edition of 75)
mixed media
McMaster Museum of Art, Levy Bequest Purchase, 1992

Marcel Duchamp (French-American 1887-1968)
Edition de et sur Marcel Duchamp
offset poster, ed. 82/100; 69.5 x 48 cm (unframed dimensions)

private collection

 

Marcel Duchamp (French-American 1887-1968)
The Draft Piston
photo vinyl from Marcel Duchamp Readymades etc. 1913-1964
Galleria Schwarz edition; unnumbered, signed by Duchamp
overall size; 61 x 76 cm 

private collection

 

VITRINE 1 & 2 & 3

 

1.Inlayed cigarette box; 8  x 14 x 12 cm (opened)
2. Vintage cigar box with post cards and pictures 16 x 19 x 11 cm (opened); with photo of artist with friend 1974; artist rolling cigar in Varadero Cuba 1995 all colour c prints; 15  x 10 cm
3. Two jars 15  and 10 cm; filled with cigar ash and cigar butts (tobacco harm reduction units)
4. Cassette tape: “stop smoking with subliminal messages”; 11 x 7 cm.
5. Vintage porcelain Dubonnet match holder; 9 x 9 cm
6. Cloisonné red and black cigarette box; 8  x 6 cm
7. Carved Calabash pipe with opened pipe case; 27 cm long
8. “Old Pal’’ pipe cleaners; 16 x 8 cm;  with two  folding match books ‘Travellodge; and Victorian motel
9. VIEW magazine back cover “Inframince” 1945 (Duchamp issue)
10. Book of matches “The Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II”;  33 cm high
11. Porcelain figurine of Chairman Mao with cigarette and “choke” switch (attached) 32 cm high
12.”Jantai”boxed smoking set, “Chairman Mao” Zippo style lighter and lighter fluid;  8 cm long.
13. Maple leaf design glass ash tray with various cigarette and cigar holders; 16 cm long
14. hand painted porcelain figurine of woman at the bath as ash tray; 16 x 8  x 6 cm
15. hand painted porcelain reclining figurine ash tray with moving fan and legs; 14 x 6 x 14 cm 
16. Metal bullet shaped cigar cutter; 5 cm long
17. pictures and notes of children smoking with pamphlet ‘How to help yourself get rid of smoking habit’ 29 x22 cm
18. 3 ash trays --Aladdin Casino, aloha/Hawaii, green porcelain Chefware; each approx 9 x 10 cm
19. Marlboro butane cigarette lighter in the shape of a cigarette;  9 cm long
20. Tuckets Orinoco tobacco tin circa 1890 made in Hamilton ON;  6 x 17 x 10 cm
21. Book Wrapper in the shape of a cigarette pack, No smoking by Luc Sante
22. H.Upman cigar box, with reproduction cigar box label ‘Smoke’ and MONTECRISTO cigarillo, gift from Ian Wallace 20 x 14  x 18 cm (3 items)
23. Whitney Museum commemorative Zippo cigarette lighter with plastic holder; 8 x 5 cm
24. Nickel-plated cigarette case; 14 x 9 cm
25. Glass maple leaf cigarette ash tray with two cigarette holders and carved pie, and pipe cleaner spoon. Approx. 14 cm diameter.
26. “Caesars Palace,” Las Vegas porcelain ash tray, with vintage  books of matches total 12. (accompanied by text label “Got a Match?”)
27. Vintage “Lucky Strike” cigarette tin; 14 x 11 cm 
28. “Roi Tan” cigar box;  6 x 22 x 15 cm; ; with books of vintage matches total 34
29. 4 vintage cigarette packs, Rami, Rameses, Sante, Sweet Caporal, with label “How Many a Day?”
30. Vintage McDonald’s tin cigarette box with empty pack of ‘Canadian classics’ cigarettes. With text label “cigarettes are killers that travel in packs”
31. 5 Zippo style vintage cigarette lighters. Approx. size each;  6 x 4 cm
32. 3 specialty vintage cigarette lighters. Approx size each; 11  x 4  cm
33.Empty plastic Ronson lighter fuel bottle and  Ronson flints; 15  x 5  cm
34.2 pencil style lighters, one in case, plated with Rhodium; 19  x 4 cm
33.Book; ‘’Lighters Gli Accendi’’ by Stefano Bisconcini (Chronicle Books), with text label ‘’we may have all stopped smoking, but we continue to burn” Luc Sante, opened; 27  x 17 cm
34.El Gallo hand painted match box; 9 x 6 cm
35.Punch cigar box opened with label “addiction etc”; 13 x 13 x 16 cm
36.Cigar Labels in box opened; 16  x 11  x 15 cm
37.Perelman’s Pocket Encyclopaedia of Havana cigars;  opened  as indicated 19  x 15 cm
38.Bambu cigarette paper tin case and embroidery of same approx size 8  x 8 cm
39.Opened book of matches’ with print-inscription, “stolen from the Crows Nest St John’s NFLD”
40.Limoges circular ash tray with King and Queen of Hearts design; 10 cm diameter
41.Antique silver and porcelain ash tray circa 1890s “Ladies you May”; 8 cm diameter
42.Life Magazine back cover 1980 with ad for More cigarettes and text “do you mind If I smoke” etc; 34 x 23 cm
43.vintage hand cigarette roller; 39 x 14 cm
44.Photo maquette of Montecristo Alpha, c-print 50 x 12 cm
45.Dikeakos sketch book of conceptual drawings and notes for Puis-je fumer; size; opened 47 x 29 cm
46.B&W photo of artist in studio, 1969;  12 x 18 cm
47.Various postcards from the tobacco museum Delhi ON; 6 total
48.Book,  Tobacco in Canada; 24 x 16  cm
49.Pencil drawing of Duchamp coughing with pipe “A cloud of smoke Entr’acte,” 1997, with the comment the air was to stink of the artists’ egos.
50.Marcel Duchamp, a life in pictures, by Andre Raffray opened to pages 26 and 27; 26 x 17 cm
51.Card box of vintage book matches total 26 with text “best way to stop smoking is to carry wet matches”; 29 x22  cm
52.text panel, “A full box of wooden matches is lighter than an opened box, because it doesn’t make any noise,” Marcel Duchamp with two card box matches ‘La Llama’
53.Dikeakos drawing of proposed installation of various cigar box sculptures and cigar butt sculptures; 27 x 22 cm
54.The Complete works of Marcel Duchamp, Arturo Schwarz, Thames and Hudson edition with the Dikeakos components for the Patisserie Duchamp collages
55.Cigar Handbook by Marvin R. Shanken  22 x12 cm
56.Black and white vinyl of Duchamp with cigar playing chess with text comments ‘smoking helps me think’ etc…
57.Pamphlet tobacco use in Spanish.