São Paulo – "For some time now I have wanted to write a reply to your last e-mail. On the other hand, it seemed better to me to talk to you and say what I have to say in person." So starts the message sent by Algerian-born, French-based writer Grégoire Bouillier, to his then-girlfriend, the French artist Sophie Calle. "I wished things would have gone in a different direction. Take care of yourself." Thus ends the e-mail, which put an end to the relationship, and became the theme of an exhibition by Sophie. The exhibition is showing at Sesc Pompéia, in the capital of São Paulo, since last Friday (10th) and will continue until September 7th.
Sophie created a near-spectacle surrounding the romantic break up. At Sesc Pompéia it is possible to watch the videos of 104 women interpreting the letter that ended the relationship, as well as two marionettes and a female parrot, translations of the letter in Braille, Morse code, stenography, bar code and other graphical languages, plus photographs and videos of singers and actresses interpreting the letter. The exhibition is entitled "Take Care of Yourself." "I invited 107 women, chosen according to their professions, to interpret the letter from a professional point of view. To review it, comment on it, dance to it, sing it. To exhaust it," says Sophie.
Grégoire Bouillier, 48 years old, the author of the letter, travelled to Brazil early this month, to attend the Paraty International Literary Festival (Flip), in Rio de Janeiro. And so did Sophie. It was the first time that the two met after the e-mail. The meeting took place on stage. After reading excerpts from their books – both of them are authors –, they discussed the demise of their relationship and explained how the experience fed their artistic projects. "The story is over. Now I have a new love who has asked me not to turn him into a work of art. I agreed, but that does not mean that I will keep my word," said Sophie.
One of Bouillier’s books, "L’invité mystère," which was translated into English as The Mystery Guest, was launched in Brazil shortly after the conference. The Algerian also used his relationship to make art, as he tells, in the book, of the invitation that he received to the birthday of Sophie Calle, whom he did not know. She invited a number of people that matched her age plus one more person she did not know, symbolizing the year that was about to come and was still a mystery.
The Algerian-French writer’s books are labelled by critics as "self-fiction." In addition to The Mystery Guest, which was first published in France in 2004, Bouillier also wrote Report on Myself, in 2002, and Cap Canaveral, launched last year, which revolves around the meeting between a mature writer and a young female admirer. It is his only non-autobiographical novel. Bouillier was born in Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria. He used to be a painter, before he became a journalist, and then a writer. Bouillier’s first book won him the French literary prize Prix de Flore.
Exhibition
Sophie’s exhibition was first presented at the Venice Biennial, in Italy, 2007. It has also featured in France, Canada and the United States. In São Paulo, the exhibition is part of the activities of the Year of France in Brazil. "Take Care of Yourself" is curated by Valquíria Prates, an educator, writer, and holder of a doctorate in cultural action and mediation from the School of Communication and Arts (ECA) of the University of São Paulo (USP). The work can be viewed from Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 10:00 am to 09:00 pm, and on Sundays and holidays, from 10:00 am to 08:00 pm, at Clélia street, 93, in the Pompéia neighbourhood.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
