Rirkrit Tiravanija's Boat Installation at Galerie Chantal Crousel
At Galerie Chantal Crousel in Paris, Rirkrit Tiravanija presents an exhibition from May 5 to June 17, 2010, showcasing a half-scale wooden replica of Le Corbusier's Louise-Catherine barge, which was initially commissioned by the Salvation Army in 1929. Attendees traverse a dark wooden wall and staircase leading to a hold-like area filled with mannequins dressed in colorful T-shirts featuring protest messages. The space includes small structures resembling bunk beds and fluorescent illustrations of global demonstrators. The barge model, constructed in Thailand and sold in thirds, supports The Land Foundation, co-founded by Tiravanija in 1998. Critic Carole Boulbès describes the installation as a perplexing "social pudding" intertwining art, finance, charity, and activism.
Key facts
- Exhibition at Galerie Chantal Crousel, Paris, May 5 – June 17, 2010
- Half-scale wooden reconstruction of Le Corbusier's Louise-Catherine barge
- Barge originally transformed into a shelter for the poor by Le Corbusier for the Salvation Army in 1929
- Twenty mannequins wear T-shirts with protest slogans including 'My president is black. The dream comes true' with Obama portrait
- Demonstration Drawings on A4 paper, framed in gray, depict protesters worldwide
- Drawings commissioned by Tiravanija from Thai compatriots based on press photos
- Barge model built by workers in Thailand using Thai wood
- Part of drawing sales supports The Land Foundation, co-founded by Tiravanija in 1998 in Sanpatong, Thailand
Entities
Artists
- Rirkrit Tiravanija
- Le Corbusier
- Lucy Orta
- Carole Boulbès
Institutions
- Galerie Chantal Crousel
- Salvation Army
- The Land Foundation
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Sanpatong
- Thailand
Sources
- artpress —