Jean-Yves Jouannais Performs His Encyclopédie des guerres at Centre Pompidou

Since September 2008, Jean-Yves Jouannais has been performing his ongoing work L'Encyclopédie des guerres at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Once a month on Thursdays, he reads and comments on excerpts from his encyclopedic project, which compiles texts about war from Homer to the end of World War II, organized alphabetically. The performances include projections of images and film clips. Jouannais, who describes himself as an 'idiot' before war and claims no expertise, presents the work as a live, experimental conference-performance rather than a conventional book. The project is expected to continue for three to four years, with around two hundred entries so far. Jouannais emphasizes the form over content, drawing comparisons to the seminars of Lacan, Deleuze, and Barthes. The performances attract a loyal audience, even among those not typically interested in war. The work incorporates personal history, including references to his father and grandfather. Upcoming performances are scheduled for March 26, April 16, May 14, and June 18, 2009.