Houellebecq and Rottenberg at Palais de Tokyo: Irony and Nihilism
The Palais de Tokyo in Paris presents its current exhibition season under the title 'Happy sapiens,' referencing Nietzsche's 'gay science.' The central section is dedicated to Michel Houellebecq (born 1958 in La Réunion, lives in Paris), while Mika Rottenberg (born 1976 in Buenos Aires, lives in New York) dominates the lower floors with a solo show. Houellebecq's exhibition, titled 'Rester Vivant' and curated by Jean de Loisy, plays with irony and self-parody, featuring blurred photographs, malfunctioning lights, and a smoking room with a jukebox. The show delegates its ego to other artists, female nudes, and the artist's dog. Rottenberg's video art, curated by Daria de Beauvais, expands into immersive installations that blend physicality with assembly-line hypnotism, echoing her work at the 2015 Venice Biennale. The exhibitions run until September 11, 2016.
Key facts
- Palais de Tokyo season titled 'Happy sapiens' references Nietzsche's 'gay science'.
- Michel Houellebecq's exhibition 'Rester Vivant' occupies the central section.
- Houellebecq was born in 1958 in La Réunion and lives in Paris.
- Mika Rottenberg's solo show is on the lower floors.
- Rottenberg was born in 1976 in Buenos Aires and lives in New York.
- Houellebecq's show features blurred photos, malfunctioning lights, and a smoking room.
- Rottenberg's work includes video and sculptural installations, shown at the 2015 Venice Biennale.
- Exhibitions run until September 11, 2016.
Entities
Artists
- Michel Houellebecq
- Mika Rottenberg
- Matthew Barney
Institutions
- Palais de Tokyo
- Air de Paris
- Andrea Rosen Gallery
- Biennale di Venezia
- Manifesta
Locations
- Paris
- France
- La Réunion
- Buenos Aires
- Argentina
- New York
- United States
- Zurich
- Switzerland