The south gallery of the Centre Pompidou has a rich history of exhibitions exploring the strong connection with the Rue Saint Merri, the Stravinsky fountain and the Marais through its wide glass and steel façade.
It was the ideal setting for Julius Eastman's minimalist opera, which demanded above all scenographic clarity.
Based on a careful study of luminosity and space, we discussed the evolution of light as well as the circulation of the audience with the museum's curators and staff.
Around the musical instruments, we placed a limited set of objects, all playing with natural and artificial light, all meant to be seen from outside and inside the gallery : disco balls, silver dance mats and neon words.
The south gallery of the Centre Pompidou has a rich history of exhibitions exploring the strong connection with the Rue Saint Merri, the Stravinsky fountain and the Marais through its wide glass and steel façade.
It was the ideal setting for Julius Eastman's minimalist opera, which demanded above all scenographic clarity.
Based on a careful study of luminosity and space, we discussed the evolution of light as well as the circulation of the audience with the museum's curators and staff.
Around the musical instruments, we placed a limited set of objects, all playing with natural and artificial light, all meant to be seen from outside and inside the gallery : disco balls, silver dance mats and neon words.
Gay Guerilla (2023) explores the legacy of the Afro-American queer composer Julius Eastman (1940–1990) through dance, music and architecture. By channelling the unique voice of Eastman, who died in 1990, Gerard & Kelly continue his practice, incorporating abstraction and politics in an installation brought to life by a series of performances developed specifically for the Centre Pompidou’s gallery 3.
With Samuel Akins, Soa de Muse, Guillaume Diop, Conor Hanick, Coleman Itzkoff, Awa Joannais, Germain Louvet, Enzo Saugar, Adam Tendler, Davóne Tines, Richard Valitutto, Seth Parker Woods.
Concept and choreography: Gerard & Kelly
Music: Julius Eastman
Prelude to The Holy Presence of Joan d’Arc (1981); Gay Guerrilla (1979)
Installation design: Gerard & Kelly in collaboration with Simon de Dreuille
Assistant choregrapher: Julia Eichten*
Costume design: Camille Assaf
Make up: Yumiko Oka
Hair and make up: Nadeen Mateky
Lighting design: David Debrinay
Production: Vincent Brou
Stage manager: Camille Laut
Understudies: Augustin Cimbault and Marlon Thiebaux-Amaranthe
Costume assistants: Ida Maité Hahn and Lelie de Mercey
Wardrobe: Clément Bourgis
Production assistant: Pierre Tanguy-Cottin
Photos : Antoine Espinasseau & Tadzio
1 : Light Study extract
Theo Casciani
Théo Casciani
Éditions Audimat
◑ with Aviva Rowley
Quentin Vuong
◑ with Antoine Espinasseau
◑ with FMAU
Miles Greenberg
◑ with Assaf Shoshan
◑ with Alice Pallot
Théo Casciani
with Quentin Vuong
◑ with Hicham Berrada
