21 The temple

Revolving platform, fabrics, garden chairs, sound system

By appropriating the motif of "La roue de la fortune" (The Wheel of Fortune), Pierre Ardouvin takes on a "standard" motif from the world of television, a commonplace symbol of the ideology of gambling, and redirects its functionality. Echoing outdated images drawn from pre-television popular culture, he juxtaposes two different conceptions of entertainment. There's the idea of bringing people together, images of community halls, popular banquets, or circuses. However, there's also imagery from esoteric beliefs and sessions around the "seance table," which were popular among the "lower classes" in the early 20th century. This reference to collective activities that provided people with means to meet and socialize through sharing and discussion contrasts with the ideology of "entertainment" and the mechanical, personalized consumption of cultural "products."

Presenting before us the traces of a bygone world, a place of shared experiences that has become impossible, Pierre Ardouvin invites us to choose – should we in turn participate in the game and accept going in circles? Or should we keep our distance and remain in the shadows? [...]