In semi-darkness Ely and Nina keep watch over a precious collection. Innumerable works of art, the cr`eme de la cr`eme of past centuries, adorn the walls of their Moscow apartment. Grandfather bought them, the family has preserved the collection throughout the decades and added to it, whilst renaming during the Revolution or the transcription into Russian changed the family name from Bellucci to Bielutin. Ely was once a painter and was ostracised for formalism. Nina was an art historian who says she has written a hundred books. Vodka flows freely, toy figures appear haunted, poltergeists approach, Nina’s Master Raven speaks and for Ely everything is a comedy. Art can be neither owned nor copied.
About the artist
Clément Cogitore was born in Colmar in 1983. After studies at the School of Decorative Arts in Strasbourg and Le Fresnoy National Studio for the Contemporary Arts, he began exploring a personal blend of cinema and contemporary art. Cogitore explores the border between cinema and contemporary art. Through films, videos, photographs and video installations his work questions the collective memory, representations of the past and, more generally, the ways in which people cohabit with their images. His films have been selected for numerous international festivals (Cannes, Locarno, Montréal, Lisbon), biennials and international exhibitions (Centre Georges Pompidou, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin) and won several awards. He works and lives between Paris and Rome.
