Beckett's Artistic Legacy Explored at Centre Pompidou

The Centre Pompidou's Department of Cultural Development presents 'Beckett,' an exhibition running from March 14 to June 25, 2007, curated by Marianne Alphant and Nathalie Léger. Unlike their earlier, nostalgic Barthes show, this exhibition focuses on Samuel Beckett's engagement with contemporary art. It features nearly fifteen works by Bruce Nauman, a new film by Stan Douglas produced for the occasion, and five paintings from Sol LeWitt's Geometric Figures and Color series (1979). The show is divided into eight sections—'Voix,' 'Œil,' 'Noir,' 'Cube,' and others—displaying archives such as the manuscript of 'Waiting for Godot' and Beckett's personal drawings and photos. A rare audio recording of Beckett reading 'Lessness' is included, marking the only known recording of his voice. The exhibition highlights Beckett's film and video work, including 'Film' (1964) with Buster Keaton and five videos made for British and German television, such as 'Ghost Trio' (1977), 'But the Clouds,' 'Nacht und Träume,' and 'Quad' (1982). It also features works by Robert Ryman, Geneviève Asse, Bram Van Velde, Giuseppe Penone, Richard Serra, Jasper Johns, and Andrew Kötting. The curators argue that Beckett's legacy is more visual than literary, influencing artists like Nauman, Douglas, and Ryman. The exhibition underscores the Department's transdisciplinary approach, bridging literature, visual arts, and television.