Boccara Gallery is delighted to announce our upcoming exhibition, Man Ray: Revolving Doors Tapestries, the first presentation of this historic series in the United States. Man Ray, a master of the avant-garde, was a central figure in the Dada and Surrealist movements. His Revolving Doors series began as a highly conceptual project at his debut as an artist in the United States. For their first installation in 1919 at the Daniel Gallery, the collages were hinged onto revolving supports, so that the entire ensemble could be spun around. However, the tapestries themselves didn’t come to life at that time.
The series went on to be published in various Surrealist magazines, influencing a new generation of artists and foreshadowing the coming photographic experiments that Man Ray would conduct in the 1920s. The final lithographic edition of the series, published in 1972, led to an important meeting the following year between Man Ray and master weavers Frédérique Bachellerie and Péter Schönwald from the renowned Parisian tapestry workshop, Atelier 3. The atelier’s mission is to interpret various artistic expressions and revive forgotten weaving techniques, and they distinguish themselves from conventional tapestry workshops by weaving all pieces from the front, a method that allows for constant artistic interpretation throughout the process. In her interpretation of Man Ray’s Revolving Doors series, Frédérique used different knot thicknesses to replicate the original collages’ superimposed colors. She also employed thin strands of metal wire that appear to recede into the background, effectively conveying the delicate, lightly drawn pencil lines.
This collaboration between artist and artisan, Man Ray and Atelier 3, resulted in a complete set of ten tapestries, produced in a limited edition of only six per design. Man Ray’s venture into tapestry was more than just a creative exercise; it was a philosophical statement. As a Surrealist, he sought to blur the lines between art and life, challenging the conventional notions of what a work of art could be. By reinterpreting his idea as a tapestry, a medium that one could argue exists in both the second and third dimensional spaces, he has not only solidified the concept of his project, but also elevated textiles to the realm of fine art.
Today, Boccara Gallery, led by recognized tapestry expert Didier Marien, is proud to present the complete collection of Man Ray’s Revolving Door tapestries. This historic exhibition stands as a powerful testament to Man Ray’s ability to innovate across different mediums and Atelier 3’s dedicated craftsmanship and skill. We invite you to explore the dynamic intersection of fine art and design, and witness how these masterpieces can enrich and transform a space.
