Jennifer Allora & Guillermo Calzadilla: Split the Lark

From April 2 to June 10, Royaumont invites Jennifer Allora & Guillermo Calzadilla to take over the space to respond to the transitional context of the abbey’s renovation. Split the Lark presents a selection of the artists’ works as well as a special commission.

Taking Emily Dickinson’s poem as a starting point (Split the Lark—and you’ll find the Music, 1864), the exhibition focuses on the ideas of fragmentation and the unrecoverable, central to the site restoration. Allora & Calzadilla analyses the human relationship to nature and social history through music and sound.

The exhibition features three videos and one sound work presented in the Cistercian building spaces. The scaffolding of the main façade will constitute the base of an impressive light installation, central to this exhibition.

Jennifer Allora (born 1974, Philadelphia) and Guillermo Calzadilla (born 1971, Havana) have collaborated on an extensive body of work since 1995. Through a research-based approach, their work traces intersections of history, material culture, and politics through a wide variety of mediums, namely performance, sculpture, sound, video, and photography. Their work has been exhibited and collected widely in public institutions and private collections. In 2016 they will have a major exhibition at the Art Gallery of Alberta, Canada. They are currently presenting the project Puerto Rican Light (Cueva Vientos), Dia Art Foundation, Guayanilla–Peñuelas, Puerto Rico (until September 2017). Their main solo exhibitions include the Philadelphia Museum of Art Fabric Workshop and Museum (2014); Trussardi Foundation, Milan (2013); the US Pavilion at the 54th Venice Biennale (2011); the Museum of Modern Art, New York (2010); Haus der Kunst, Munich (2008); and Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (2008); and Serpentine Gallery, London (2007). The artists live and work in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The artists are represented by Chantal Crousel gallery in Paris.

The Royaumont Foundation was born in 1964 with the donation of the Abbey of Royaumont by Henry and Isabel Gouin. This charitable foundation of the cultural sector preserves and revitalises its heritage through the permanent presence of artists and a wide audience of visitors. Today as International Centre for Music and Dance, Royaumont accompanies the artists in their research and creation, detects young talents and trains new generations of artists. Royaumont organises numerous public events and activities and hosts each year over 15,000 young people to open their awareness to its heritage and artistic practice. 

The Royaumont Foundation is pleased to present the works of artists Jennifer Allora & Guillermo Calzadilla. This exceptional exhibition echoes the spirit which currently animates Royaumont. The abbey is indeed the subject of a program of restoration and enhancement of its architectural heritage, development and renovation of unprecedented scale. The renovation project, which has led the Foundation to reduce its residential activities for 6 months, offers the artists spaces normally closed to the public, including a spectacular scaffolding covering the front of the abbey

The project is curated by Laurene Marechal.
The exhibition has been produced thanks to the generous support of galerie Chantal Crousel.


For more information please visit www.royaumont.com.

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Aude Charie: akcrmedias [​at​] gmail.com / T +33 6 07 22 12 02