On my way back from Wales, I stopped a few days in London and went with my host Michele Outram to see ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’, based on the novel by Mark Haddon, adapted by Simon Stephens. Performed beautiful by the teenager Christopher, and amazing production values. This is where scenography is at its best: meshing set, lights, video, props…with text, feelings of the characters and main ideas.
Ah, after meeting people online, this was a period of meeting people in real life, in ‘flesh’. I went about 1h30 away from London towards Whistable Harbour, to visit one of the former ActiveLayers members, Cherry Truluck, somewhere near the sea, where there is a forest of wind mills. I met also Paula Velez with whom I worked on Waterwheel, and Anne Roquigny (WJ-Spots), as well as friends I met during the time I was at La Cambre Valerie Jung and Bernard Floch.
The refugees strong presence along the Seine was a surprise for me. Same in Brussels near the Senne, forced to make-do. In Brussels, some were camping in the park, next to the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre, deserted after the financial crash. The buildings are inhabited now by artists, non-profit associations and NGOs.
Several exhibitions in Paris, inspired me. At The Palais de Tokyo – the relevant ‘Acquaalta’ by Celeste Boursier-Mougenot (sea level rise, climate change, refugees fleeing by boat) and the Escher like installation ‘Servitudes’ by Jesper Just; at the Palais de la Decouverte the playful and poetic ‘XYZT Abstract Landscapes’ by Adrian Monot (inventor of the open source software e-motion) and Claire B; and in Beaubourg ‘Turbulence’ by Mona Hatoum.
