Pierre David. Les pensionnaires

Les pensionnaires takes as its starting point a series of drawings, made by artist Pierre David, of Maison nationale des artistes residents with Alzheimer's disease. This work is a reflection on old age, on the sometimes embarrassed look we have on these patients excluded from the public space. Through this work, the artist wanted to apply the classical codes of portraiture to models who no longer recognize their image: does the disease show itself in their eyes?

Les pensionnaires was commissioned by the Fondation des Artistes. It was installed in 2012 and is now on permanent display at the Maison nationale des artistes in Nogent-sur-Marne. This work is installed in a living room whose layout was designed by Pierre David. Sixteen protraits of residents were realized from January to December 2011. The faces of the models are drawn on a scale of one, on a background of gold leaf.

This book transcribes this adventure and the bond that was created between Pierre David and the residents, themselves former artists.