The Anthrobscure: Earthworks, Coal Mines, and Michel Gérard’s Geological Investigations of the Underground
detail of Robert Smithson, Asphalt rundown, 1969. Cava dei Selce, Rome, Italy. Asphalt, earth. Sculptural Event. CREDIT: Holt/Smithson Foundation
Michael Heizer, City, 1970–2022. Courtesy Triple Aught Foundation. Photo: Eric Piasecki
Incoherent Structures
robert smithson, spiral jetty, 1970. Great Salt Lake, Utah. Mud, precipitated salt crystals, rocks, water. 1,500 ft. (457.2 m) long and 15 ft. (4.6 m) wide. photograph: gianfranco gorgoni, Building Spiral Jetty with truck and bulldozer, Great Salt Lake, Utah, 1970
The Underground
michel gérard, Averroës, 1976. dechromed sculpture. installation view. courtesy of the michel gérard studio
MICHEL GÉRARD, SOCLES, 1976. CHROMED, DECHROMED, AND COPPER SCULPTURES. INSTALLATION VIEW. COURTESY OF THE MICHEL GÉRARD STUDIO
The Anthrobscure
Coal, Coke, Schist, Anthracite
michel gérard, ouranos, 1988. installation: coal. Gaillac, France. courtesy of the michel gérard studio
michel gérard, cross-section, 1989. mixed media including forged steel, burnt branches, leaves and plants, charcoal, coke, schist, shale, and anthracite in progressives sizes, sampled from the La Mure mines in Isère, France, with 42 forged steel elements. centre d’art contemporain du creux de l’enfer, thiers. courtesy of the michel gérard studio
MICHEL GÉRARD, VIEW THROUGH THE PIT, 1988; UNTITLED (BLACK DRAWING), 1989; UNTITLED (BLACK DRAWING), 1991; VOYAGE AU CENTRE DE LA SAAR, C. 1989; AND VOYAGE AU CENTRE DE LA SAAR, C. 1989. CHARCOAL AND COAL RUBBED AND PASTED ON PAPER. 135 X 100 CM EACH. COURTESY OF THE MICHEL GÉRARD STUDIO
MICHEL GÉRARD, MIGRATING PARTICLES, 1991. OIL PAINT, GLUED ALUMINUM POWDER, AND ENGRAVED RUBBER ON CANVAS. 100 x 135 x 6 CM EACH. COURTESY OF THE MICHEL GÉRARD STUDIO
Petroleum
MICHEL GÉRARD, PERSIAN RUG, 1991–95. mixed media: wood, earth, steel, aluminum, fox fur. 200 CM IN DIAMETER. COURTESY OF THE MICHEL GÉRARD STUDIO
MICHEL GÉRARD, FRENCH ROAST, 2011; COFFEE BEANS, ACRYLIC, COMPASS, ROPE, GLUE, WOOD. NIGHT NAVIGATION, 2012; COFFEE BEANS, STEEL, WOOD, ACRYLIC, GLUE. DESERT MONSTER, 2012; SAND, EARTH, BRANCHES OF TREES, ACRYLIC, GLUE, WOOD. FIRE ELEMENTS, 2012; PAPRIKA, ACRYLIC, MATCHES, GLUE, WOOD. COURTESY OF THE MICHEL GÉRARD STUDIO