The idea may seem surprising: entrusting the urban intervention collective KompleXKapharnaüM with a tribute to Jean Vilar. To celebrate the centennial of his birth, no reading of texts in the Cour d'honneur, no historical recreation in the centre of the Palais des papes, but a spectacular form that evokes the artiste, the Festival director and the man, calling up the past and the present, mixing the words of great figures of his period with those of totally unknown individuals to discern what remains of his thinking today. An artists' view cast on another artist through a show comprised of projections, wall frescoes, voices and live music, given in a symbolic and open space: the square in front of the Palais des papes and more especially the enormous façade of the palace, cut out, reframed, chiselled by the images, documents and faces of witnesses that will be projected on it. We know the date of this single outdoor performance: the evening of the 14th of July, after the fireworks ritual. The occasion for a large gathering mixing the residents of Avignon and its neighbouring areas with festival-goers from all over France and elsewhere, brought together for a free show, offered to everyone. A creation by artists who, for years, have been boldly inventing a language blending images, music and theatre, and who share it with the public, popular by definition, of the urban space. The Palais des papes, artists, the public, the fête: could not we call it a Vilar equation? It is in this spirit that KompleXKapharnaüM worked for Public Square, as though the idea were to create a forum where the artists and the broadest public possible could ponder together Vilar's dream, facing the walls of history that suddenly is peopled, comes to life and takes the floor. ADB
Distribution
conception KompleXKapharnaüM
distribution en cours
Production
commissioned by the Festival d'Avignon
with the support of the Spedidam
and with: the Town of Avignon, Avignon Tourisme, Citadis and the Maison Jean Vilar