Juliette Navis and Johana Malédon Present Contrasting Performances at Avignon Festival

The second of three programs curated by SACD and the Festival d'Avignon took place on July 16, 2026, in the Jardin de la Vierge du Lycée Saint Joseph. The series featured two distinct performances: Juliette Navis's "Revenir au monde" and Johana Malédon's "Dear." In Navis's piece, actress Margot Alexandre engages the audience in existential questioning while chef Céline Maguet prepares pasta, using Ravel's Boléro as a timer for risotto. The performance blends theater and cooking, exploring themes of existence and purpose. Malédon's work, choreographed and danced by herself, involves concrete blocks and a white construction tarp by set designer Felicia Riegel. Malédon interacts with the blocks, creating sounds through friction and hammering, eventually reducing them to dust. The piece evokes past installations at the venue, such as Phia Ménard's "Black Monodie" (2010) and Jonah Bokaer and Daniel Arsham's "Curtain" (2012), with a nod to Joseph Beuys. Both performances highlight the festival's commitment to discovery and experimental art.