Centre d`Art Contemporain, Geneva
—
Henri Chopin
From Concrete to Liquid to Spoken Worlds to the Word (retrospective), Centre d´Art Contemporain, Geneva
From Concrete to Liquid to Spoken Worlds to the Word explores the emancipation of language through historical and contemporary positions, from the earliest typographic and sound works of concrete poets to poetic experiments in the digital era. This diverse exhibition is accompanied by a series of readings, performances and screenings that reveal the porosity between art and poetry.
The Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève is pleased to present a major project dedicated to contemporary poetry and its various modes of dialogue within the visual culture of our era. The goal of this complex exhibition program is to highlight how in recent years, contemporary art has begun to show a revived and growing interest in the world of poetry and the written and spoken word. Poetry readings and recitals in museums, performances centered on the importance of the text and its recitation, videos where poetic language takes on a role that rivals the visual component: the art of our time appears to be deeply and intimately rooted in words. Just when its fate seemed sealed for good in this chaotic and (seemingly) aphonic civilization of images, the word has returned to the fore among young artists and the viewing public.
The Centre’s program, while tracing this link between word and image to the concrete poetry of the 1960s and ‘70s, will try on the one hand to examine this renewed artistic interest in the word, and on the other to show how the web and social media are introducing new ways of making poetry. The underlying aim is to explore how art and poetry shape each other in an increasingly interconnected world, through ongoing, rhapsodic communication. The “poetic acts” we will be exploring do not even seem like “works of poetry” in the classic sense, since they include a mosaic of texts drawn from videos, performances, and songs, as well as quotes and phrases from the web and its social networks. Social media are turning even the poetic experience into a widespread, everyday social activity that is fragmentary and non-hierarchical. In conclusion, we will look at how younger artists are showing a fresh interest in bringing words back from their digital, liquid dimension and giving them a more concrete, tangible form. With this in mind, Karl Holmqvist has been invited to conceive a platform/space in which words will function like a vast stage set.
Henri Chopin, D.A. Levy and Dom Sylvester Houédard
The exhibition program includes a retrospective, on the third floor, of a key neo-avant-garde figure and pioneer of sound poetry and concrete poetry, Henri Chopin (1922-2008); it will feature more than 80 works, including dactylopoèmes, two films, and a sizeable collection of archival documents. Chopin was a poet, painter, filmmaker, independent publisher, and cultural organizer who in the 1950s began using early recording systems to produce a wide range of works based on the manipulation of the human voice.
The Centre is very happy to present, on this same floor, the first exhibition in Europe centered on D.A. Levy (1942-1968), one of the most mysterious, unconventional characters in American culture, who committed suicide at the age of 26. A radical figure, impossible to pin down, Levy can be considered a book artist: he always wrote poetry with the book-as-object in mind, to the degree that his works are considered forerunners of zines, that is, self-produced publications printed using an ordinary photocopier and circulated on a small scale.
The third historical show focuses on another legendary name in concrete poetry, Dom Sylvester Houédard (1924-1992). A Benedictine priest, theologian, and spy for the British army, “dsh” was not just an extraordinary concrete poet, but envisioned a new approach to spirituality, philosophy, and art. His many collaborative undertakings include projects with Gustav Metzger, Yoko Ono, and John Cage.
Spoken Worlds to the Word and Word Squares, a solo show by Karl Holmqvist
While the third and fourth floors are dedicated to concrete poetry, that is, poetry that creates typographical effects on the page, the second floor of the Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève will host a project titled Spoken Worlds to the Word and a solo exhibition by Karl Holmqvist called Word Squares. A considerable portion of this exhibition will be dedicated to performances and readings of poetry and literary texts, featuring artists like Karl Homlqvist himself, Cally Spooner, Giovanni Fontana, Vincent Barras, Elizabeth Lebon, Orion Scohy, Laura Vazquez, Sebastain Dicenaire, Anne Le Troter, Cia Rinne, Tomomi Adachi or Chris Mann.
On the second floor, the duo Invernomuto will also present a musical overview – I Lick Chopin – of authors whose lyrics give a prime role to the spoken word and the recorded word, aware or not aware of Chopin’s research into the “new word”. The program will include a variety of artists including Ben Patterson, King Tubby, Rp Boo, Dennis Tyfus, Halim El-Dabh, Rammelzee, Napalm Death, PNL and many more.
Cinema Dynamo
What happens when a poet starts making YouTube videos or animated GIFs? The Internet provides its own equivalents to traditional poetic forms such as sonnets and the haiku—Twitter’s 140 characters of text, Instagram’s square images and short video clips, and the impermanent “stories” made popular by Snapchat and later added to other platforms. This new selection of Internet-based poetry, curated by Steve Roggenbuck, reminds us that just as language is everywhere, poetry can be everywhere. Various projects brought together by Carla Demierre and Ceel Mogami de Haas (one gee in fog) will be screened parallel to this selection.
Conceived by Andrea Bellini in collaboration with Mathieu Copeland, Ambroise Barras, Vincent Barras, Gigiotto Del Vecchio, Carla Demierre, Invernomuto, Ceel Mogami de Haas (one gee in fog) and Steve Roggenbuck.
Biography
born 1922 in Paris/FR
died 2008 in Dereham/UK
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2019
Lutte Poétique, Georg Kargl Fine Arts, Vienna
2017
Graphpoemachines, at Supportico Lopez, Berlin
Henri Chopin: From Concrete to Liquid to Spoken Worlds to the Word (retrospective), Centre
d'Art Contemporain, Geneva
2014
Henri Chopin – Dans L’Essex, Firstsite, Colchester
2013
Gratte Ciel Hors Commerce, New Jerseyy, Basel
L’Énergie Du Sommeil, 1M3, Lausanne
La Crevette Amoureuse, Supportico Lopez, Berlin
2012
Revue OU – Cinquième Saison: An Anthology of Sound Poetry, Argos, Brussels
OU OU OU: Henri Chopin and Revue OU, Summerhall, Edinburgh
2011
Henri Chopin and the OU Magazine, Fundação de Serralves Porto
Neonlicht#1 – Henri Chopin in het archief Paul De Vree, M HKA, Antwerp
2010
In Neapel, Supportico Lopez Gallery, Berlin
HENRI CHOPIN, Supportico Lopez Gallery, Berlin
2008
Henri Chopin, Three Minutes, Cubitt Gallery, London
2005
LES FILTRES DE L’ ALPHABET ET DE L’€, Fondazione Morra, Naples
1998
Henri Chopin, Sonic Memory, Norwich Gallery, Norwich
1993
Henri Chopin: Revue OU, Collection OU, Neues Museum Weserburg, Bremen
1991
Assessorato alIa Cultura, Rome
1989
Galerie Le Lieu, Québec
Galerie Krief, Paris
1988
Galerie Convergence, Nantes
1987
Galerie J & J Donguy, Paris
Galerie Brigitte Schehadé, Paris
1985
Galerie Hundertmark, Cologne
1984
Third Eye Centre, Glasgow
1983
Henri Chopin: Revue OU, Collection OU, Neues Museum Weserburg, Bremen
Centre Pompidou, Paris
Anzart in Hobart, Tasmania
1979
Poesia Sonora, Studio Santandrea, Milan
Palais Jacques Coeur, Bourges
Jordan Gallery, London
1975
Greenwich Theatre Gallery, London
Galeria Akumulatory, Poznan
1974
Henri Chopin: Ideas Gallery, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London
1972
Ceolfrith 18: Henri Chopin, Ceolfrith Arts Centre, Sunderland
1968
Fulham Gallery, London
1966
Galleria Alpha, Modena
1963
Galerie Riquelme, Paris
1962
Galerie Saint-Laurent, Brussels
Groupe Rijklin, Bruges
Selected Group Exhibitions
2020
Fuckers, Galerie der Stadt Schwaz, Schwaz
2018
A Matter of Printing, Supportico Lopez, Berlin
2017
New Pleasure, with Merlin Carpenter, Henri Chopin, George Condo, Dexter Dalwood, Latifa Echakhch, Hans-Peter Feldmann, Kim Gordon, Hilary Lloyd, Claudio Parmiggiani, Steven Parrino, Richard Prince, Matana Roberts, Alan Vega, Christopher Wool – Simon Lee Gallery, New York, NY
From the truer world of other: Typewriter Art from PAMM’s Collection, Pérez Art Museum Miami, FL
This is a Voice, Museum of Applied Arts & Science, Ultimo
Sites of Knowledge, Curated by Melissa Bianca Amore & William Stover, Jane Lombard Gallery, New York, NY
Integration Alone is not Enough: Selected Works of British Concrete Poetry 1960-1980, Richard Saltoun Gallery, London
2016
Poésie Balistique, with Marcel Broodthaers, Henri Chopin, Liz Deschenes, Thomas Hirschhorn, Scott Lyall, Dora Maurer, Helen Mirra, Dominique Petitgand, Christopher Williams, Channa Horwitz and others, La Verrière – Hermès Fondation Brussels
Concerning Concrete Poetry, Badischer Kunstverein, Karlsruhe
2015
Poem N°0000000000000000000000000000,9 with Julian Beck, Adriano Costa, Lenora de Barros, Natalie Häusler, James Hoff, Karl Holmqvist, Zin Taylor, curated by Supportico Lopez, Mendes Wood DM, São Paulo
La mot et la chose, Galerie Natalie Seroussi, Paris
Collecting Lines – Drawings from the Ringier Collection, Villa Flora, Winterthur
PÊCHE DE NUIT (oh well ah well yes well) / A project of Supportico Lopez, RaebervonStenglin, Zürich
OU: UR: SOURCE, La Plaque Tournante, Berlin
2014
Go and come back, with Julian Beck, Marco Bruzzone, Henri Chopin, J. Parker Valentine, Supportico Lopez at Paradise Garage, Los Angeles
Der Leone Have Sept Cabeças, Crac Alsace, Altkirch
… all silent but for the buzzing …, Royal College of Art Galleries, London
2013
Revue Ou, Poesie Sonore, Poesie Ouverte, Poesie Konkret 1964-1974, Oslo 10, Münchenstein
Homes & Gardens, Freedman Fitzpatrick, Los Angeles
Poetry & Performance, with Ida Applebroog and Gina Pane, Richard Saltoun, London
Anton Voyls Fortgang /A Void, with Guy De Cointet and Channa Horwitz, Kunstsaele Berlin, Berlin
Vocal Folds, Gertrude Contemporary, Melbourne
Die dritte Dimension, with Natalie Häusler, Giulio Delvé, Maria Adele Del Vecchio, Supportico Lopez at Frutta Gallery, Rome
Anton Voyls Fortgang /A Void, with Guy De Cointet and Channa Horwitz, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf
2012
It’s When It’s Gone That You Really Notice It, Simone Subal Gallery, New York
Face to Face, Deakin University, Melbourne
Ecstatic Alphabet/Heaps of Language, MOMA, New York
2010
Novel, Dépendance, Brussel
2009
Poor. Old. Tired. Horse., ICA, London
1967
Henri Chopin, Julien Blaine, Francois Dufrene and HW Muller, concert at Musée d’art Modern de Ville de Paris
Selected Press
2013
Astrid Mania, Henri Chopin, Supportico Lopez, Artforum, September, p. 425
Vincenzo Latronico, Henri Chopin’s “La Crevette Amoureuse”, Art Agenda, May
2012
Tim Griffin, Ecstatic Alphabets / Heaps of Language, Artforum, December, pp.238-241
2011
Why I am the author of sound poetry and free poetry, Nero, No. 27, Autumn, pp.59-66
2009
Limitless Voice(s), Intensive Bodies: Henri Chopin’s Poetics of Expansion, Mosaic, Vol. 42, No. 2
1983
Nicholas Zurbrugg, The Limitations of Letterisme: An Interview with Henri Chopin, Visible
Selected publications
2015
En Guises d’Autobiographie Forcément Incomplète, Lemon Melon & Richard Saltoun Gallery, London
2014
Henri Chopin, De la Démocratie / Of Democracy, Motto Books & Supportico Lopez, Berlin
2013
Anton Voyls Fortgang/A Void, Henri Chopin, Guy De Cointet and Channa Horwitz, Spector Books, pp. 27-29, Leipzig
2008
Ed. Giannantonio Morghen, Henri Chopin, Espace Frémissant, Associazione Renzo Cortina, Milan
2007
Le Cahier du Refuge 162, Centre International de Poésie, Marseille
2006
Graphpoemesmechine, Zero Gravità, Biella
2002
J’ose! – défier, Archivio F. Conz, Verona
2001
Panorama, Ottezec Editions, Geneva
1994
Hors-l’or (Appel à L’orage de L’oral), Cahiers de nuit, Caen
1993
Ed. Richard Meyer, - & +, Voix Editions, Montigny
1992
NAISSANCE REELLE (clartés de la poésie sonore), Berenice Editions, Rome
Les Hippocampes Noirs, Agius Editions, Geneva
Ed. Henri Chopin and Paul Zumthor, Les Riches Heures de l’Alphabet, Edition Traversière, Paris
Ed. Nicholas Zurbrugg and Marlene Hall, Henri Chopin, Queensland College of Art Gallery
1991
Alphabet pour Gratte-Ciel, Galerie Jordan Editions, Paris
L'esperluette et Ie Couillard (Légende), Atelier d'art LP Rougier Editions, Ivry-sur-Seine
Poème Froufroutant Électronique, Lô "Ie bibelot" Editions, Verson
1990
Squelette du Verbe et Alentour, B.G. Lafabrie Editions, Paris
Graphèmes en Vibrance, Petit Classique du Grand Pirate Editions, Chelles
Mil 1000 Mille Dates, Guy Schraenen Editions, Antwerp
Squelette du verbe et alentour, B.G. Lafabrie Editions, Paris
1987
Petit Livre des Riches Heures Signistes et Sonores, J & J Donguy Editions, Paris
Passementeries, Ottezec Editions, Nîmes
Henri Chopin, Galerie Brigitte Schéhadé, Paris
1986
Ray to the Rays, Francesco Conz, Verona
1985
La Conference de Yalta, Edizioni Morra, Naples
1984
Enluminures, Edizioni Morra, Naples
The Last Book of the Rich Alphabetical Hours of the Chopins, Third Eye Centre, Glasgow
1982
Concerto en Zhopin Mineur, Artista, Paris
16 Typewriter Poems, Edition Armin Hundertmark, Cologne
1980
Three Tubes, Coriander Studio, London
1979
Henri Chopin – Poésie Sonore Internationale, Jean-Michel Place Editions, Paris
1978
Portfolio Chopin, Editions Ottezec. With Cozette De Charmoy and William S. Burroughs, Geneva
1976
Henri Chopin, The Cosmographical Lobster: A Poetical Novel, Gaberbocchus Press, London
1975
À propos de OU, Revue OU/Cinquième Saison, E. Veys Editions, Tielt
Chronique 74, Revue OU/Cinquième Saison, Ingatestone
Portrait des 9 (Marche Commun), Guy Schraenen Editions, Antwerp
Signs/Signes, Ruby Editions, London
1974
Henri Chopin: Ideas Gallery. Graphics, Objects and Other Poems, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London
1972
Le Cimetière, Henry Fagne Editions, Brussels
Ceolfrith 18, Ceolfrith Press, Sunderland
1970
Le Dernier Roman du Monde, Cyanuur Editions, Brussels
Pêche de Nuit. Notes for 45rpm record in Le Dernier Roman du Monde, Editions Cyanuur, Wetteren
1969
Uncorrect poem for Henri Chopin, Openings Press, Woodchester
1967
Why I am the Author of Sound Poetry and Free Poetry, Festival de Fort Boyard, in: Revue OU 30/31, Musée d’art Moderne, Paris
1958
Ed. Tour de Feu, Chants de Nuit. Jarnac
L’arriviste, Caractères, Paris
1957
Présence, Revue Poésie Nouvelle, Paris
Regard Tota
Chants de Nuit, Tour de Feu , Jarnac
Signes, Caractères, Paris
Selected discography
1994
Staccati en glissando: pour une voix humaine (radiophonic music)
Henri Chopin, les 9 saintes-phonies: a retrospective
1979
Les Chuitantes Respirant
1973
You Vetigo Vertige
1972
Poésie Sonore, S Press
1971
Audiopoems, Tangent Records, UK