Crossing the themes of movement and disappearance, the artist duo Marie Ilse Bourlanges and Elena Khurtova conceive for this exhibition a plastic opera that brings together narrative and material.
Following the protocol of the hospital archives, Khurtova & Bourlanges retrace the missing story of Ilse, a German woman who was interned by force in Marseilles in the 1950s. Through text and speech, the duo recomposes the story of a silent presence that they transpose into a versatile and vulnerable landscape.
This vocal and visual score enters in dialogue with soil, as a tangible counterpart and powerful expression of identity, commodification and territory. Exploring its spiritual and transitory properties – from the handful of topsoil to the excavated ground – soil becomes a partner, echo or allegory of an individual destiny.
A reflection on the fragility of human and environmental conditions triggered by migrations inherent to a territory opened towards the Mediterranean.
Performances on Saturday the 5th of September at 13.00, Friday the 18th of September at 15.00 and Saturday the 17th of October at 16.00.
A proposal by 3 bis f – Lieu d’arts contemporains.
Curated by Diane Pigeau.
Partners : Mondriaan Fonds, Stichting Stokroos and Looiersgracht 60 Amsterdam.
