Prenez Soin de Vous.
While doing one of my favorite things to do when home (going to the bookstore and spending hours looking at all the photography magazines) I came across a very interesting article. It was on a rather unusual exhibit taking place in France by the writer/photographer/artist Sophie Calle. After recieving a break-up letter from her boyfriend, ending with the words "Prenez soin de vous" (translation: look after yourself) she decided to do so in a way that would be meaningful for her. Feeling separated by the shock and pain of the letter, she decided to send it to friends and strangers chosen for their professions and ask them to interpret it, whether by analyzing it, commenting on it, dancing to it, singing to it or any other way they saw fit, as she tried to find meaning and reason to their break up. All in the form of texts, photographs and videos, the result is an interesting look into the way different people interpret the same thing, a letter completely distant and removed from themselves and yet heart-stirring in the way only a break-up letter can be. Each one of them changes the letter into something new, every woman sees something different in the same thing. Interesting indeed (although perhaps providing some insight into why they broke up in the first place).
"The women read the email, analysed it, danced and sang it, cried over it, and treated it as evidence, material for a skit, a film, a crossword, a report. Psychoanalysts, literary critics, sociologists, philosophers, translators, accountants, doctors, criminologists, sexologists, cartoonists, novelists, chess players, adolescents and even Calle’s mother analyzed the letter.
Scattered around the hall on what used to be readers’ tables are video screens with performances of the letter by a wide range of actresses, performance artists, film directors, pianists, composers and singers from every musical spectrum. Calle’s stock is so high that she has managed to persuade many famous names to perform. Highlights for me include Jeanne Moreau, cigarette and drink at her side, reading the letter; Miranda Richardson competing for attention with a gorgeously preening cat on a sofa beside her; Ovidie performing the letter accompanied by an array of blow-up dolls and sex toys; and soprano Natalie Dessay singing the letter as she descends the marble staircase of what I think is the Palais Garnier. There is even space for a video of a parrot called Brenda eating a copy of the letter. "
"The women read the email, analysed it, danced and sang it, cried over it, and treated it as evidence, material for a skit, a film, a crossword, a report. Psychoanalysts, literary critics, sociologists, philosophers, translators, accountants, doctors, criminologists, sexologists, cartoonists, novelists, chess players, adolescents and even Calle’s mother analyzed the letter.
Scattered around the hall on what used to be readers’ tables are video screens with performances of the letter by a wide range of actresses, performance artists, film directors, pianists, composers and singers from every musical spectrum. Calle’s stock is so high that she has managed to persuade many famous names to perform. Highlights for me include Jeanne Moreau, cigarette and drink at her side, reading the letter; Miranda Richardson competing for attention with a gorgeously preening cat on a sofa beside her; Ovidie performing the letter accompanied by an array of blow-up dolls and sex toys; and soprano Natalie Dessay singing the letter as she descends the marble staircase of what I think is the Palais Garnier. There is even space for a video of a parrot called Brenda eating a copy of the letter. "