SO ARE YOU HAPPY ?

From Gerard Garouste to « The Happy Show ». Critics had said that one does not necessarily come out of this exhibition feeling « happy ». Curiosity had got the better of me. The name Stefan Sagmeister rang a faint bell, but I certainly couldn’t place it. 

STEFAN SAGMEISTER (1962-) is among today’s most important graphic designers. Born in Austria, he now lives and works in New York. His long-standing collaborators include the AIGA ( the professional association for design ) and musicians, David Byrne and Lou Reed or even the Rollin Stones. 



So, are we happier in a couple, under the influence of drugs, after a seance of mediation, after physical exercise……? When are we happy? The Gaité Lyrique  gave the artist carte blanch to « install » his reflections on happiness.
 

Originally « The Happy Show » was a project for a film following his peregrinations in search of happiness conducted through three methods. Meditation, drugs (not happy about that at all) and cognitive therapy. He’s certainly not out to gives us that miracle recipe of how to be happy but many of his reflections give food for thought - or they did me. Just good common sense. He doesn’t speak any French and if I had really wanted to cover  a wider ground, I could have done the translations for the hundreds and hundreds of text - I haven’t. Some are in English or the titles are, others are self explanatory. The Gaité Lyrique is big - two floors and he has written everywhere - from the staircases to the toilets. His reflections may be very personal but they do leave it open to question self. Nothing is left to chance. Along the way you can design your own symbol of happiness, go back and forwards in front of a huge spider’s net and see different pictures and images appear even to taking a very sticky ginger toffee at the end…young people were enthralled. Talked amongst themselves, asked questions. There was no-one of my generation around that day so the charm of the exhibition was enhanced by youth, laughter, giggling and sighs - I came out thoughtful and happy……



Behind the toilet door

Stand up to conflict

With time I get used to things and take all for granted

Money does not make me happy

I'm hand writing even if I don't talk in French thanks to.....

Don't wait for people to change

Being not truthful, always works against me



Happiness in spare time  - go on working as long as you can?







Pretty well impossible to make everyone happy

Actually doing the things that I set out to do increase my over all level of well being

Keeping a diary supports personal development


By the way, can be write on walls?

Keeping a diary supports personal development




For Lou Reed

Complaing about something is stupid - so do something about it, or forget ti

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