Two weeks of Dirty Laundry @ 59 Rivoli

Photo by Alex Katar

It all came together as if written in the stars.

The idea planted in my brain: why not propose an exhibition at 59 Rivoli ? (A place I have a long history with).

My response: Oh, I don’t have time…

But quietly in my mind: If I could make the time, what would I do?

I saw it right away. I’d build an exhibition with Zoe Duchesne and Vilma Pimenoff, feeling how our work would interact and communicate in this space. I contacted Vilma, who lives in Helsinki, asked if there was any chance she’d like to come to Paris and exhibit. The timing was perfect, she was coming for a two month residency at Cité des Arts. Awesome.

Then I contacted Zoe, not knowing that only a couple weeks prior, she’d written in her journal that she wanted to do more collective projects. Again, perfect timing.

It had been 7 years since I had shown anything from this body of work.

I was 4 months pregnant last time.

I quickly put together a proposal, and when the question about a title arose, the answer was already there. Dirty Laundry. I had this phrase in my collection of bits of writing, formed using cut-ups from magazines, “you are writing things like pieces of dirty laundry.” When the words had appeared in this sequence, it immediately felt like a warning or judgement from the realm of “shoulds.” Maybe I shouldn’t be writing these things. Maybe I shouldn’t be sharing these thoughts. Maybe I shouldn’t be expressing my feelings like this. Maybe I should keep this private. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe my photos bother people. Or maybe I should put the doubts in the backseat and keep moving forward and see what happens!

Positioning our giant exhibition poster, designed by Matthieu Delahaie, in the window of 59 Rivoli. Vilma Pimenoff is outside guiding us to make sure it’s straight.

The impulse to create doesn’t go away. We’re inherently creative beings. Are there certain things we should not share? I have this idea that if I stay low, and don’t get knocked out by the auto-censor, and just make the damn work, there could be freedom and joy on the other side. (Ah, but do I have the right? my inner keep-it-safe-and-quiet critic says.) This is knocking up against a false belief that I need permission! It feels like I need a signed permission slip between me and joy! 

Red thread corset

Anyway, let’s keep going. On the other side of the creative void, there could be connection with people who feel the same and understand, and maybe want to talk about it. That possibility is exciting enough to keep going.

This idea of airing your dirty laundry has brought up very diverse responses, making it clear that everyone has different degrees of comfort in how much personal stuff they share outside of their circle of close loved ones.

Here’s a short video of us talking about how we see Dirty Laundry, and a display of French spoken by a Quebecoise, Américaine and a Finlandaise!