Nov 4, 2009 09:10
14 yrs ago
French term
[elle] place l'exposition sous les auspices des arts premiers
French to English
Art/Literary
Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
Hi
This refers to a Burkina Faso statue that is the first piece in an exhibition:
"L'entrée est marquée par une statuette votive qui place l'exposition sous les auspices des arts premiers."
Indigenous art (represented by African statues and masks) does feature in the exhibition, as do Surrealist pieces, classical painting and sculpture, installations, video... a real hotch-potch!
I was playing around with "??? the exhibition in the light of indigenous art" but can't make it work.
As always, thanks in advance for your help.
This refers to a Burkina Faso statue that is the first piece in an exhibition:
"L'entrée est marquée par une statuette votive qui place l'exposition sous les auspices des arts premiers."
Indigenous art (represented by African statues and masks) does feature in the exhibition, as do Surrealist pieces, classical painting and sculpture, installations, video... a real hotch-potch!
I was playing around with "??? the exhibition in the light of indigenous art" but can't make it work.
As always, thanks in advance for your help.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+2
12 mins
Selected
which signals the pervasive/constant presence of indigenous art throughout the exhibition
I think this could as an alternative to more literal options, presuming you have posted this having rejected "under the auspices of", "under the sway of", etc.
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Note added at 14 mins (2009-11-04 09:24:24 GMT)
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Since it refers to a statue, perhaps you could use "under the watchful eye", or refer to the statue itself as a "herald"?
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Note added at 14 mins (2009-11-04 09:24:24 GMT)
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Since it refers to a statue, perhaps you could use "under the watchful eye", or refer to the statue itself as a "herald"?
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Lianne Wilson
29 mins
|
thanks, Lianne
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|
agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
2 hrs
|
thanks, ingeborg
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks everyone for your suggestions and the raging debate in the discussion box. I especially like HJS's suggestion of "heralds the presence of" to translate this rather "wooly" French. Thank you again."
16 mins
setting the tone for this exhibition of primitive art(s)
to start the brainstorming process
Peer comment(s):
disagree |
David Vaughn
: primitive nope
2 hrs
|
agree |
John Detre
: Agree with "setting the tone." Wouldn't use "primitive" for the reasons others have mentioned.
3 hrs
|
+2
22 mins
... placing the exhibition under the auspices of primitive/African art
I know this sounds rather/very (!) literal, but the reason I've stuck so closely to the ST is that I think there's some sort of spiritual connection intended between the "statuette votive" and the rest of the exhibition. It's as though the little statue is watching over the exhibition...
There are of course various posibilities for "arts premiers" - that's not really what I'm concentrating on here.
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Note added at 31 mins (2009-11-04 09:41:17 GMT)
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OOps - posSibilities!
There are of course various posibilities for "arts premiers" - that's not really what I'm concentrating on here.
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Note added at 31 mins (2009-11-04 09:41:17 GMT)
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OOps - posSibilities!
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Alison Curran
14 mins
|
thanks Alison!
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|
agree |
Emma Paulay
: Yes, I get the feeling that the exhibition is placed "under the watchful eye" of the statue.
17 mins
|
thanks Emma! I couldn't have put it better!
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disagree |
David Vaughn
: "Primitive" is a definite no-no as well as being patently false.
2 hrs
|
false or not is a matter of opinion. In any case, I made it quite clear that this wasn't the main part of my suggestion. In fact, I see nothing wrong with Sandra's "indigenous art" although no doubt that will also become non-PC one day!
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agree |
Rebecca Riddles
3 hrs
|
thanks Rebecca!
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+2
1 hr
announcing the influence of primal art on the exhibition
This article has some interesting stuff on primal art and its influence on more recent periods and artists.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/investment/article183...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/investment/article183...
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Emma Paulay
: Another possible interpretation
18 mins
|
thanks Emma
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|
agree |
Evans (X)
: yes, I think this interpretation is a valid one
35 mins
|
thanks Gilla
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1 day 9 hrs
setting the exhibition firmly under the stamp of the primal arts
The French is quite emphatic, so "stamp" puts the foot down, as it were :)
Discussion
In the case of texts like this one, my clients usually expect me to take things into my own hands, that's why they've called on my hands.
If it is an essential key text, we'll go over things closely, but if it is a general-need text, they trust me, based on their experience, to give them something of usable quality that is generally equivalent to the original.
Maybe it's not a translator's job to know what they want to say, and be able to distinguish that from what they've actually said, but my clients seem to be happy about everything except that I sometimes keep them waiting more than the wish - but not more than I promised.
But the important factor for a translator is knowing that a similar term exists in French, and recognizing that the author has chosen a different term which has completely different connotations. Avoiding being "politically correct" is not good translation if your author has chosen to be PC.
I'm not sure about "indigenous" - at Branly, "indigène" and "autochtone" were also considered. My feeling is that indigenous works better in English - the French words were much used during the Guerre d'Algérie, and so leave a bad taste. Hard to weigh.
David, I think you're right - the original choice of the author is not neutral and therefore needs to be taken into account. Maybe more context on the piece and author would help?
This link might be helpful.I know the term is still in current use, but I just wanted to highlight the dangers of using it.I'm almost sure I had to use it in inverted commas for my art history studies, and you'll find quite a few examples of this.I'll try and have a look in Critcal terms for Art History this afternoon and let you know.
http://books.google.fr/books?id=JZabZ5hOfqgC&pg=PA319&lpg=PA...
Anyway, there are thousands of quite reputable-looking books and articles that use "primitive art" to mean sub-Saharan art (etc), without there being any negative connotations implied. This is a term that has been in official use for quite some time.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Paris-Primitive-Jacques-Chiracs-Muse...
Just one point - I would be very careful of using the terms 'primal' 'primitive' etc as in art history terms this is now seen as rather perjorative. Perhaps stick with indigenous?