Camille Henrot's 'The Pale Fox' Installation at Chisenhale Gallery Creates Meditative Universe from Chaos
At London's Chisenhale Gallery, French artist Camille Henrot unveils 'The Pale Fox,' an immersive installation characterized by a striking blue ambiance that echoes Yves Klein's monochromatic works. This piece expands upon her 2013 film 'Grosse Fatigue,' which earned the Silver Lion at the Venice Biennale. The installation incorporates a variety of elements, including found images, books, digital tablets, colored feathers, sculptures, a radio-controlled snake, and ambient soundscapes. Drawing from Dogon mythology, each wall symbolizes a compass direction and an element associated with human life stages and mythological origins. The north wall, dedicated to water and creation, features calabashes and nods to Gabagunnu, while intertwining narratives from anthropology, Leibniz's philosophy, and Henrot's earlier creations, illustrating how chaos can inspire creativity.
Key facts
- Camille Henrot created 'The Pale Fox' installation at Chisenhale Gallery
- The work builds on her 2013 film 'Grosse Fatigue' that won the Silver Lion at the Venice Biennale
- The installation features deep blue walls and carpet, ambient music with coughing sounds, and a radio-controlled snake
- Dogon mythology provides the philosophical framework, with each wall representing a compass point and element
- Objects include books, educational CDs, digital tablets, feathers, a snow globe, drawings, and sculptures on aluminum shelves
- References range from Dogon creation myths to archaeological finds, biblical crosswords, Marvel comics, and Buddhist rituals
- The work draws from Griaule and Dieterlen's anthropological studies and Leibniz's philosophy
- Henrot explores how disorder and entropy can become productive forces in creation
Entities
Artists
- Camille Henrot
- Yves Klein
Institutions
- Chisenhale Gallery
- Venice Biennale
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Venice
- Italy
- West Africa