Fascinated with the history of coal mining, Kevin Kaliski, 14 years old, builds Lego models of existing coal mines, draws sketches of headframes, gathers archival documents related to coal mining heritage and displays all this material on a blog for teenagers.

Selected to participate in the “Salon de Montrouge”, a Parisian fair launching young artists’ careers, I asked Kevin Kaliski – born like me in the north of France and of polish descent – to stand in as my alter ego. Instead of presenting my own work, I displayed in my booth (a “module” in the jargon of this young artist’s fair) Kevin’s models, drawings, blog and research material.

The work was subsequently spotted and exhibited in the official selection of Manifesta 9.

01
Kevin Kaliski at Manifesta 9, photo: Kristof Vrancken
02
Module, 2011, plinth, frames, Lego model, drawings, online blog, exhibition view: 56th Salon de Montrouge
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Module, 2012, plinths, frames, Lego model, drawings, online blog, clippings and archive photographs, exhibition view: Manifesta 9, photo: Kristof Vrancken
04
Module, exhibition view: 56th Salon de Montrouge
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Module, exhibition view: Manifesta 9, photo: Kristof Vrancken
06
Kevin Kaliski’s drawings, 2009-2011, pencil, pen, and photographs on paper, 21 x 29,7 cm
Index