Sophie Calle - A toi de faire, ma mignonne

We plunged into the somewhat eccentric universe of Sophie Calle at the Picasso Museum, an unprecedented encounter between two giants of contemporary art. Sophie Calle, famous for her intimate and provocative artistic explorations, offers a unique perspective on the work of the grand master Pablo Picasso.

Extending over multiple floors of the museum, the exhibition skillfully raises the question of Picasso's lesser-known humor through the subtle wordplay of its title "Picalso". This bold maneuver demonstrates Calle's ingenuity in integrating herself into the artistic realm of Picasso, a monumental figure in art history.

While the exhibition spans four floors, let's focus here on the first floor, where a meticulous selection of photographs, installations, and autobiographical narratives unveils Calle's profound reflections on universal and recurring themes such as identity, intimacy, death, and memory. By engaging her works in dialogue with those of Picasso, Calle creates a surprising and bewildering exchange between two distinct epochs and artistic approaches.

The total appropriation of the museum space by Calle revealed a new dynamic in artistic dialogue. By occupying all floors of the museum, she redefined the relationship between the artist and her audience, offering an immersive and innovative experience.

The exhibition also delved into the concept of absence through the concealment of Picasso's works under veils, thereby giving voice to the "voiceless" of art. This approach invited visitors to share their memories and emotions, thus enriching the dialogue surrounding art and its multiple meanings.

Through this immersive and evocative experience, the Picasso Museum celebrated the power of art to transcend temporal boundaries and provoke profound reflection on the human condition.

© Sophie Calle - Voyez-Vous (Vinciane Lebrun)