"Self-Portrait" by Thomas Clerc: His Business is Others

Thomas Clerc is presenting a unique exhibition titled "Autoportrait" at the Institut mémoires de l'édition contemporaine (IMEC). The exhibition delves into Clerc's self-exploration, but with a distinctive twist: it utilizes archives that are not his own.

This unconventional approach to a self-portrait challenges traditional notions of autobiography. Instead of relying on personal diaries or direct accounts, Clerc constructs his narrative through a collection of documents, letters, photographs, and other materials that belong to others. These archives, gathered from various sources, become the building blocks for his self-representation.

The exhibition invites viewers to consider how identity is formed and perceived through external artifacts and the memories of others. By weaving his story through these borrowed materials, Clerc prompts a reflection on the subjective nature of self-narration and the ways in which we are shaped by the world around us and the traces we leave behind.