Bertille Bak's 'Le tour de Babel' at Le Grand Café, Saint-Nazaire

Bertille Bak's exhibition 'Le tour de Babel' at Le Grand Café in Saint-Nazaire (June 6 to August 31, 2014) explores the invisible exploitation of cruise ship workers. The central video, also titled 'Le tour de Babel,' was made after sailors refused to be filmed due to risks; their absence underscores their daily invisibility. The series 'Les Complaisants' features marquetry made from sailors' hair, presented in small metal frames, evoking a funereal tone. The video 'Urban Chronicle 2' (2010-2011) contrasts American dream imagery with hidden exploitation. Bak uses absurdity, repetition, and humor to highlight serious issues, as seen in 'Court n°4,' which references clowns and Buster Keaton. The installation 'La marée mise à nue par ces célibataires' (co-created with Charles-Henri Fertin) displays erotic Polaroids typically hidden in sailors' cabins, partially obscured by red curtains that move too quickly to fully see. Four floor elements shift with cruise ship arrivals in Saint-Nazaire's port, blurring interior and exterior. The exhibition transforms mundane gestures into poetic acts.