« This is not a show “about” Michel Houellebecq, but a show “by” Michel Houellebecq, demonstrating how the writer has produced a form that contributes to the reinvention of exhibitions, by mixing up literature and photography, between fact and fiction
Poet, essayist, novelist and filmmaker, Michel Houellebecq has always had close ties with the cinema and the world of the visual arts, which have accompanied and extended his reflexions since the start of his career, as the frequent allusions to them in his novels attest.
This show is a scenario, leading visitors through the writer’s obsessions. Made up of sounds, photographs, installations and films he has conceived, as well as the presence of several guest artists (Robert Combas, Raphaël Sohier, Renaud Marchand and Maurice Renoma) it will offer an immersion into the world and mind of the protean creator who is Michel Houellebecq. »
I took that straight off the Palais de Tokyo’s description of the exhibition.
The day before I went, I had read several articles and critics on the same before going to see it. I don’t know if they were overly obtuse but I really felt in all cases that I was reading another language.
Marielle suggested we should go along. This surprised me somewhat as l hardly thought it was her cup of tea. She has certainly read more of his work than I have. My entrance to the Houellebecq world was « Soumission » A book which definitely had an effect on me. It was in « today’s world », in France and the general elections were coming up. The Far Right didn’t get in. The Muslim party did. The work seemed so real and for that matter, it kept me awake a few nights running. I then went onto read more of his work. Torturous but however you look at it, he makes you think.
Coming to terms with his exhibition was quite another matter. I didn’t. There were some very beautiful photos, most of which were too beautiful and had obviously been retouched.
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| Another one - see below |
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| LOOKS LIKE THE MAP OF A CITY |
And here is his skull xrayed - apparently perfectly normal and shown amongst laboratory utensiles
With Buddha's watching over him
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| I would think that scarf has been added! |
Holiday globalization is going to far for me. Yet suddenly, and only because Marielle stopped and looked closely at one of the photographs on the floor, that I realized they were all situated in France or her territories.
Combas, I can take in small doses and this time around there was just a bit too much.
Then of course there is his love and obsession for Clement - his dog who had died recently. Because these moments did appear to be obsessional and all that surrounded the dog’s life was also the case, it finally made me wonder if his wife came into his life at all?
This is just a very small sample of "Clement"...
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| All his toys |
I’ll go on reading his work. I don’t understand that mentality (nor do I need to) but he certainly writes very well.
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