Pontus Hulten’s Institut des Hautes Etudes en Arts Plastiques

Over the course of my research for an exhibition at Chelsea College of Art and Design in May 2012 I have come across a remarkable art school experiment by the curator par excellence Pontus Hulten.

Pontus was the creator of the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the most ground breaking museum in 20th century European history. Despite this His legacy is cruelly undermined in France, and his school in particular faces being written out of history. The MAC in Marseilles currently has in its possession the archive of the school and all the recordings of the school’s meetings. But they languish there, inaccessible. The only history which exists for the school is 2 books of transcriptions in French, and the testament of the 80-100 students who went through it.

The Institut itself was an experimental school for artists directed by Pontus Hulten,  Daniel Buren, Serge Fauchereau and Sarkis. These contradictory figures provided an unparalleled nexus of artistic and curatorial talent which managed to bring some of the most exciting thinkers in the world into speaking at the school. From Jean Francois Lyotard to Ed Rusha, Mike Asher to Bourdieu, small student groups of 20 a year would be treated to intense day long sessions with philosophers, architects, film makers, scientists and mathematicians.

I spoke with artists / curator and teacher Delphine Bedel who attended the school and who is determined that both Hulten and his legacy is not forgotten. Below are some notes from our discussion:

– One applied to the Institut with a form and a tape of yourself explaining why you wanted to apply. If successful you would also present your work for 20 minutes. The school was open to practicing artists from around the world and the classes were truly international. Each session, there were three a week, would be taught in French.

– Pontus’ vision for the school was driven by the examples of the Bauhaus and the Black Mountain College. As such the students took part in discussions lead by a plethora of individuals from different disciplines. Each session was recorded on magnetic tapes. Many of the speakers would decide to discuss or show different components to their work than was usual for their practice.

– The school was in Paris and consisted of one small building with an archive / library which was donated by some Belgian collectors. Catalogues for exhibitions were continually added to this and publications made to fund the school. The top floor had an office where the students and ‘teachers’ would meet around a round table.

– Each week the students would present their work for 30 minutes. There was no end of degree show, as the emphasis at the school was on providing a space for discussion, not exhibition to the public.

– Pontus ideally wished for all the students to live on site and share accommodation. Funding shortages did not make this possible.

– Each year had a different topic. Whilst Delphine was there the topic was ‘Reseach in Art’ an extremely forward topic given centrality of research to contemporary art at this now.

– Funding allowing the students would be taken to destinations such as Korea and St Petersburg to realize shows.

– Eventually the meagre funding that was provided to the Institut was cut, and the school closed. This was largely due to the politics which existed between Chirac and Hulten and the lack of public face which the school had.

Main tenets of the school:
– Theory driven
– Transmission of ideas
– Relating to artists
– Experimental
– Bound to Pontus and his incredible network
– No institutional means or structure
– Oral tradition
– Broad and inclusive vision of what art can be
– School as a Gesamtkunstwerk and an open field of research