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Text by Benoît Lamy de La Chapelle

April 2018, arts associations and artists from Saint-Etienne, which is well known for its design biennial, joined forces to produce Carbone 18 biennial. Even though this low-budget “contemporary art event” lacked a spectacular communications campaign. But it was distinctly present throughout the city both day and night, spread across multiple sites that showcased the work of a several of artists working on unique, independent projects. Having had the bright idea to work outside the existing art scene and institutions, Carbone 18 instead highlighted most of the city’s highly active non-profit arts exhibition spaces such as L’Assault de la Menuiserie, Gran Lux, Greenhouse and Les Limbes. It also invited curators and artists to take over and create exhibitions in shuttered commercial spaces, including many on the Rue de la République, a street in the city centre that has become a problem area because of its empty storefronts.

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