Bertille Bak

Born in 1983 in Arras, France, Bertille Bak lives and works in Paris.
Dedicated to observing societies and to the accurate analysis of a site, Bertille Bak delves into communities and the groups by examining their rituals, gestures, and objects, which she later uses in her projects. In collaboration with the individuals she meets, she constructs narratives between fiction and documentaries where poetry and utopias usurp the simple assessment of a situation. Whether it concerns her own community in the mining areas of Northern France or groups that are unfamiliar to her, she never chooses to distance herself or look on from afar. On the contrary, it is all about sharing a passage of life, a struggle, a resistance. Understanding the organization between individuals, listing their personal and collective histories, traditions and folklores, their hobbies and revolts is central to the work of Bertille Bak. No matter what the project, Bertille Bak develops a work focused on the collective with mankind at its heart. Her work believes in the possibility of inventing together different ways of approaching and appreciating reality.
In 2023, Bertille Bak is nominated for the Marcel Duchamp Prize. The exhibition of the nominees takes place at the Centre Pompidou in Paris until January 8, 2024. The finalist will be announced on October 16, 2023.
In 2010 Bertille Bak was a Edward Steichen Prize laureate (Luxemburg) and in 2013 she was nominated for the Meurice Prize. In 2019, she was awarded the Mario Merz Prize, Art Section (Torino). During 2019-2020 she was artist in residency at Fondation Pinault, Lens (France).
Different institutions have organized solo exhibitions of her work : Jeu de Paume (upcoming in February 2024), Louvre-Lens (2023), Merz Foundation in Torino (2022), la Criée, Rennes (2022), Le Cyclop de Jean Tinguely, Milly-la-Forêt (2019), FRAC PACA, Marseille, France (2017), Le Grand Cafe St-Nazaire, France (2014), le Musée d’Art Moderne de la ville de Paris (2012), le Musée d’Art Contemporain du Val de Marne à Ivry (2011).
Her work is part of following collections : Musée d’art moderne de la ville de Paris, Musée d’art contemporain du Val-de-Marne, FNAC-CNAP, FMAC in Paris, FRAC Rhône-Alpes, FRAC Aquitaine, FRAC Alsace, FRAC Basse Normandie, FRAC Limousin, Neuflize Collection, François Pinault Collection, Artis, the Centre Georges Pompidou, MNAM/CCI, the Fondation Louis Vuitton pour la création, among others.
Works
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Bertille Bak
Exhibition view, “Mineur Mineur“, Merz Foundation, Torino, Italy, 2022
Curated by Caroline Bourgeois
Photo: © Andrea Guermani -
Bertille Bak
Mineur Mineur
2022
5 simultaneous videos
14 minutes
production: La Fondation des artistes, French Institute, La Criée_art contemporary center of Rennes, and Bertille Bak.
Exhibition view, Bertille Bak, “Mineur Mineur“, Merz Foundation, Torino, Italy, 2022
Curated by Caroline Bourgeois
Photo: © Andrea Guermani -
Bertille Bak
Bleus de travail
2019
video 9’55
edition of 6 + 1AP
production : Le Cyclope de Jean Tinguely, Milly-la-Forêt -
Bertille Bak
Exhibition view, “Mineur Mineur“, Merz Foundation, Torino, Italy, 2022
Curated by Caroline Bourgeois
Photo: © Andrea Guermani -
Bertille Bak
Mineur Mineur, 2022
Video installation with: 5 HD screens, 5 speakers, a platform, wall painting
2 × 5 × 2,4 m (approx)
Courtesy de l’artiste, de la galerie Xippas, de Gallery Apart, Rome et de La Criée centre d’art contemporain, Rennes
Photo : Aurélien Mole -
Bertille Bak, La Brigada, 2018-2022 vidéo, couleur, son, 12 min 28 sec, écran, structure métal, 24 boîtes de cireurs collectées à La Paz, Bolivie, dimension variables
courtesy de l’artiste, de la galerie Xippas, de Gallery Apart, Rome et de La Criée centre d’art contemporain, Rennes - photo : Aurélien Mole -
Bertille Bak
La brigada
2018
video 12 min edition of 5 + 1AP -
Bertille Bak
Boussa from the Netherlands, 2017
Installation with 2 videos of 25' and 3'; a series of 5 glass bottles containing painted shrimp eyes, cork, metal
Variable dimensions -
Bertille Bak
Court n°2, 2007
Black and white video, 4:3 stereo
2'08" -
Bertille Bak
Rayonnage, 2014
Iron, fabric
Variable dimensions -
Bertille Bak
Le tour de Babel, 2014
Video
19'52
Production Le Grand Café
Courtesy of Xippas gallery, Paris and the Gallery Apart, Rome -
Bertille Bak
Exhibition view: "Le tour de Babel", 2014, Le Grand Café, centre d'art contemporain de la ville de Saint-Nazaire
Photo Marc Domage -
Les Complaisants,2014, series of 35 hair marquetry, variable dimensions
Production Le Grand Café
Photo Marc Domage -
Bertille Bak
Complaisant 30, 2014
17,5 x 22,5 cm
Mixed media -
Bertille Bak
Complaisant 35, 2014
17,5 x 22,5 cm
Mixed media -
Bertille Bak
Transport à dos d'hommes, 2012
Video
15'
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Bertille Bak
Exhibition view “Circuits”, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, 2012 © Pierre Antoine -
Bertille Bak
O Quatrième, 2012
Video
17' -
Bertille Bak
Exhibition view “Circuits”, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, 2012 © Pierre Antoine -
Bertille Bak
Exhibition view “Circuits”, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, 2012 © Pierre Antoine