Nicolas Bourriaud Photo: Alexandre Guirkinger via MonopolLast week, the French Minister of Culture F...

1. Nicolas Bourriaud and Fleur Pellerin Attack Each Other in
Public Dispute
Nicolas Bourriaud
Photo: Alexandre Guirkinger via Monopol
Last week, the French Minister of Culture Fleur
Pellerin dismissed Nicolas Bourriaud from his
post as director of the École Nationale Supérieure
des Beaux-Arts, in a surprise decision that sent the
French--and international--media into a frenzy,
sparking rumors regarding possible ulterior motives.
In a public back-and-forth carried out in the French
press, Bourriaud challenged Pellerin's decision to
fire him, calling it "arbitrary." Pellerin didn't stay

2. silent on the matter either, and accused Bourriaud of running the Beaux-Arts like a personality-
driven institution.
It all started with an exclusive interview with Télérama published on July 4, where Bourriaud
responded to the points laid out in the press release and call for applications issued by Pellerin
following his dismissal, and which could read--as interviewer Joséphine Bindé suggested--like a
reproach to his tenure. Bourriaud rebutted the points one by one.
"I do not understand this decision. I understand it even less given that the school is in excellent
condition, and we have truly extraordinary projects underway...," he told Bindé. "These points
represent a list of what have always been my priorities as director of the Beaux-Arts."
To the first point, which states that Pellerin is looking for "a more collaborative governance," he
replied: "We've instituted this more collaborative governance throughout the year, especially with a
new important measure: it will now be a professor from the school who will be director of studies. It
is a measure that changes everything, and that is truly at the service of the educational project."
Regarding a need, according to Pellerin, for a "greater social diversity of students," he reminded the
journalist that he was the one who has appointed the first African artist to head a workshop in the
academy's history--Pascale Marthine Tayou (a public artwork by the Cameroonian artist was recently
destroyed by militant Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk, Ukraine).
Bourriaud also pointed out the financial aid provided to students with limited means, and stressed
that his removal of the outdated age limit for entry resulted in "an exceptional influx of candidates,
1,400 candidates this year!" This also contributed to the increase in number of foreign applicants.
He went on to refute the claim that the institution must become more "internationally influential."
"With all humility," he said, "I don't think you can do any better than I did on this issue," naming
collaborative programs with academies in Tokyo, Beijing, Buenos Aires, and Reykjavik, with others
underway.
École
nationale superieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris.

3. Photo: Hermann Wendler
Asked about the speculations published in the July 1 issue of the satirical weekly le Canard
Enchaîné, that his job was made vacant to create a new post for Éric de Chassey, the husband of a
friend of President Hollande's lover, he replied: "I'm afraid the other points in the article proved to
be founded..."
He also pointed out that the call for applications was extremely short-term: "I wonder how the
minister was able to launch an open call for projects on July 3 which ends on the 21! Only 15 days to
set up a project, all this is not very serious..."
Fleur Pellerin finally broke her silence on the matter in a press conference held during the opening
ceremony of the photography festival Les Rencontres d'Arles yesterday.
She profusely denied all allegations of nepotism, emphasizing that the position had not been
promised to de Chassey. Her job is to "defend the future of this school and its students," she told the
press, not mincing her words.
Stressing that "an administrative position belongs to no one," it is "normal that the holder is
accountable to its supervisory authority." She criticized Bourriaud for not having established "a
project for the academy after four years in office."
The minister also made a remark on her intention to stop the position from becoming "ego driven":
"A high profile curator is not necessarily a good director," she blurted. She is seeking "a director for
the Fine Arts Academy that is really there, and not absorbed by his personal projects [...] a man of
vision that puts the school before personal interests and tastes."
French
culture minister Fleur Pellerin
Photo: Jens Gyarmaty via FAZ

4. Bourriaud was not going to let this one go. Today, the paper Le Figaro published an open letter from
Bourriaud where he denounces Pellerin's "wild accusations."
"I was appointed on a project for four years," he asserted. "I submitted a second project last year,
which was sent to all members of the school board. Then we took all year to discuss the terms and
objectives with students, faculty, and staff. What's even funnier, the meeting of the Board of
Directors on July 2 was canceled by the Minister, but contained in paragraph 4 or 5 was the 'new
project for the academy,' which was also given to the Minister during our appointment." The 45-
minute appointment during which Pellerin fired him, that is.
Meanwhile, students, faculty, and other supporters
have signed a petition launched on change.org to keep
Bourriaud in office. Commercial galleries have also
shown their support, sending open letters to Pellerin.
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-challenges-fleur-pellerin-315053