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 pierre huyghe: celebration park
 to access audio and video on collective you need real player.Something to celebrate at Tate Modern. There has been excitement in the air for the opening of Pierre Huyghe’s first solo show in the UK. The French artist, who came to prominence in the mid 90s, has set about challenging the boundaries of art and the art institution. Opting for a non-conventional retrospective at Tate Modern, Celebration Park is likened to the third act of Huyghe’s fictitious play, and this impressive final instalment began as a prologue/exhibition at Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris/ARC earlier this year. It explores the notion of authorship, modern-day myth and preconceptions, time and history and collaboration through the use of popular art forms - performance, film, sound and installation.  Still details from Streamside Day and This is not a Time for Dreaming. With your trusty map in hand, you are guided through the different facets of Huyghe’s playfully created environment. Larger-than-life Alice In Wonderland-style doors glide through the space against a backdrop of neon-light text disclaimers. The premier screening of A Journey That Wasn’t enables an uncharted island in Antarctica, through topographic transcription, to resonate throughout the gallery. While Snow White reclaims her voice, Le Corbusier is turned into a puppet and even the shoelace is nominated for its own celebratory day.  Still details from A Journey that Wasn't. There is the constant presence of inspiration, from Lewis Carroll, John Cage and Jorge Luis Borges to Walt Disney, in the often-collaborative pieces of work, which allows re-enactments and reinterpretations of familiar narratives to be explored. Huyghe also transforms the gallery space into a temporal platform where he can orchestrate a performative experience for the audience. With Celebration Park, Huyghe has successfully captured the concept of presenting mini exhibitions within one tour de force showcase. The exhibition is itself an advertisement for a larger project, the “park village”. We wait with anticipation.
Freire Barnes
Pierre Huyghe: Celebration Park is at Tate Modern until 17 Sept 06.
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Read members' comments related to this feature.
comment by howardyoung
Sep 9, 2006
The film, "a journey that wasn't" is the real star of this exhibition, though we all love the wonderful doors. The film is cross between documentary and art, which mirrors, to some extent, the project itself. The work is not difficult if you take the time out to read the bits about it given to you and sit in and watch the things happen. Take your time and this exhibition is rewarding, groundbreaking and downright brilliant
comment by rowan
Sep 4, 2006
Oh the doors are fantastic, I'd forgotten about them.
comment by elkirstinio
Sep 3, 2006
I went to see this exhibition at the weekend and the images are still with me. The gliding doors are particularly stunning, I literally stood with my mouth open for a few minutes before following them around the space. The elements of the exhibit all intertwine in very moving ways, this is the first time I've been to the Tate Modern and I would definitely return.P.s. look out for the animatronic penguin in room 8!
comment by rowan
Jul 31, 2006
Although there were many aspects of Celebration Park that I enjoyed, I felt that often the work in it was very context specific, which I feel makes things less accessible often.
comment by Seychellois
Jul 10, 2006
http://www.seychellois.sc/photo...
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