Midwest Museum Talk | Sophie Calle: Overshare
Talk
Sophie Calle, Henriette Huldisch, Cécile Godefroy, Christina Selander
The Midwest Museum Talks series continues with an engaging new chapter! Organized by Villa Albertine Chicago in collaboration with leading Midwest museums, this installment shifts focus to the compelling work of Sophie Calle.
Join us for a virtual discussion with renowed French artist Sophie Calle alongside Henriette Huldisch, Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Walker Art Center and Cécile Godefroy, Head of the Department of Research and Archives, Deputy Director of the Scientific and Collections Direction at the Musée national Picasso-Paris.
Based on the current exhibition Sophie Calle: Overshare at the Walker Art Center (on view until Jan 26, 2025), this transatlantic conversation coordinated by Villa Albertine Chicago will mirror the exhibition with last year’s À toi de faire, ma mignonne at the Musée national Picasso-Paris, exploring the unique process of presenting Sophie Calle’s deeply personal yet universally resonant work across two distinct museum contexts. Highlighting the perspectives of the artist and curators from both museums, the event will explore the genesis, themes, and challenges of these exhibitions.
Exploring themes central to Sophie Calle’s practice – such as introspection, the interplay between private and public spaces, and the artist’s fascination with retrospection – this discussion offers a unique opportunity to reflect on how her work challenges traditional notions of self-representation. The conversation will also delve into the curatorial choices that shaped the exhibitions and the ways Calle’s art resonates within contemporary culture.
This discussion in English will be moderated by Christina Selander Bouzouina, Executive Director at Alliance Française Mpls/St Paul.
The Speakers
Sophie Calle, French conceptual artist, focus of the exhibitions “Sophie Calle: Overshare” at the Walker Art Center and “À toi de faire ma mignonne” at the Musée national Picasso-Paris
Sophie Calle’s conceptual work is known for her deeply personal and provocative explorations of identity, intimacy, and the boundaries between private and public life. For over five decades, Calle has brought a unique perspective to contemporary art by seamlessly blending photography, text, and film. Her practice delves into the human condition, addressing themes such as love, loss, and voyeurism, while challenging societal norms and exploring the complexities of self-representation.
Her works have been showcased in major institutions worldwide, including the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Santiago, and the Musée Picasso Paris. As her first North American retrospective, Sophie Calle: Overshare at the Walker Art Center offers a comprehensive look at her groundbreaking contributions to the field of contemporary art. Held in prestigious collections across the globe, her art has made of her one of contemporary art’s most influential figures. Sophie Calle has received numerous awards, including the 35th Praemium Imperiale in 2024, awarded by the Japan Art Association.
Henriette Huldisch, Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Walker Art Center
Henriette Huldisch joined the Walker Art Center as Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Walker Art Center in 2020. Her shows at the Walker include Sophie Calle: Overshare (2024) and This Must Be the Place: Inside the Walker’s Collection (2024).
Previously, she was Director of Exhibitions and Curator at the MIT List Visual Arts Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and from 2010 to 2014 she worked at Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart, Berlin. She began her career at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, in 2001, where she co-curated the 2008 Whitney Biennial. Among her publications are Before Projection (2018), An Inventory of Shimmers (2017) and numerous contributions to exhibition catalogues and periodicals such as Artforum.
Cécile Godefroy is an Art Historian, PhD, member of the International Association of Art Critics, and Curator. Head of the Department of Research and Archives, Deputy Director of the Scientific and Collections Direction at the Musée national Picasso-Paris, she is in charge of the Centre d’Études Picasso that will open in Spring 2025. Specialist in the historical avant-garde and in transdisciplinary issues in art, she has taught modern and contemporary art in French and American universities in Paris.
Curator of exhibitions devoted to seminal women artists : « Sonia Delaunay », Musée d’art moderne de la Ville de Paris ; Tate modern, London, in 2014-15 ; « Marcelle Cahn, In Search of Space », Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain, Strasbourg ; Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain, Saint-Etienne, Musée des beaux-arts de Rennes, 2022-23, and more recently « Your Turn, Darling, », the exhibition of Sophie Calle’s work “A toi de faire ma mignonne” at the Musée national Picasso in Paris, she also edited books and curated exhibitions dedicated to original subjects on Picasso’s work for the Musée national Picasso-Paris ; BOZAR, Brussels (“Picasso. Sculptures”, 2016-2017 and “Picasso iconophage” (“Picasso consuming images”), 2024) ; Philharmonie, Paris (“Picasso and Music”, 2020) ; Centro Botín, Santander (“Picasso ibero”, 2021); Musée de l’Homme, Paris (“Picasso and Prehistory”, 2023).
Christina Selander Bouzouina, Executive Director at Alliance Française Mpls/St Paul
Christina Selander Bouzouina was born in Minneapolis and moved to Europe during college. After living in London and Montpellier, she spent nearly 9 years in Marseille, working as an English teacher and program coordinator in lycées and universities as well as several private institutions.
Upon her return to Minnesota in 2007, she joined the Alliance Française de Minneapolis/St. Paul where she became the Executive Director in 2008.
Christina was appointed Honorary Consul of France in Minnesota in 2014. She was named Chevalier dans l’Ordre de Palmes Académiques in 2015 and Chevalier in the Ordre national de Mérite in 2024.
Christina serves as President of the Minnesota Consular and as Secretary on the Board of Managers of AFMSP Real Estate Holdings, LLC.
In partnership with
Walker Art Center
The Walker Art Center is a renowned multidisciplinary arts institution that presents, collects, and supports the creation of groundbreaking work across the visual and performing arts, moving image, and design. Guided by the belief that art has the power to bring joy and solace and the ability to unite people through dialogue and shared experiences, the Walker engages communities through a dynamic array of exhibitions, performances, events, and initiatives. Its multiacre campus includes 65,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, the state-of-the-art McGuire Theater and Walker Cinema, and ample green space that connects with the adjoining Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The Garden, a partnership with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, is one of the first urban sculpture parks of its kind in the United States and home to the beloved Twin Cities landmark Spoonbridge and Cherry by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. Recognized for its ambitious program and growing collection of more than 15,500 works, the Walker embraces emerging art forms and amplifies the work of artists from the Twin Cities and from across the country and the globe. Its broad spectrum of offerings makes it a lively and welcoming hub for artistic expression, creative innovation, and community connection.
Musée National Picasso-Paris
The Musée National Picasso-Paris, located in the heart of Paris in the Marais district, is a major cultural institution dedicated to the work of Pablo Picasso. It houses over 5,000 pieces, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, and ceramics, offering an in-depth look at the artist’s multifaceted career. The museum showcases both Picasso’s iconic works and pieces from his personal collection, which includes notable works by artists like Henri Matisse, André Derain, and the Douanier Rousseau. Spanning five floors, the museum’s exhibitions provide a comprehensive exploration of Picasso’s creative evolution, from his early works to his later masterpieces.
Alliance Française Mpls/St Paul
The mission of Alliance Française Mpls/St Paul, an independent chapter of the Alliance Française worldwide network, is to serve our community by promoting the use and appreciation of French language and cultures through language classes, cultural programs, social events and information resources in Minneapolis and St Paul (MN).
Our vision is to build a community of people passionate about francophone culture in all its global diversity, and want to become–through high-quality native language instruction along with authentic and exciting cultural activities and social events–the indispensable destination for all things French!
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