Robert FILLIOU: Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense
The first solo exhibition in London by the French Fluxus artist Robert FILLOU, under the artistic direction of François Curlet.
What happens when a radical French fluxus artist goes solo to London for the first time? Undoubtedly, he claims to infiltrate Her Majesty's court and set the ravens free.
The journey includes: Optimistic Boxes, Pink Spaghetti, Hand Shows, a Frozen Exhibition, the Whispered History Of Art, God, a peace demonstration, Unmade Portraits, a martial arts show, the Most Curious Invention of the Gaga Yogi, unrevealed overseas guests, special video sessions and the Deathless Dying of the World. British artists John Latham, Barry Flanagan and Tony Morgan, together with Irish artist James Coleman, are the four ravens that Robert Filliou will meet on his way to the Queen.
Will our artist ever manage to be introduced to Court?
Exhibition under the artistic direction of François Curlet.
-
Robert FILLIOUL'Immortelle Mort du Monde (The Deathless Dying of the World), 1960Poster (Offset colour)72.4 x 55.8 cmEdition of 300
-
Robert FILLIOU7 Childlike Uses of Warlike Material: A Contribution to the Art of Peace (Ein Beitrag zur Kunst des Friedens), 1971Set of 7 handprinted screenprints(Portfolio) 55.2 x 75.2 cm: (sheet) 49.5 x 69.5 cmEdition 89 of 100
-
Robert FILLIOUHand Show, 1967Wooden box containing 24 black and white serigraphs in a serigraph cover, the box with a serigraph on plexiglass lidBox: 30.1 x 24.1 x 4 cm
Each serigraph: 28.2 x 21.8 cmEdition 97 of 150 -
Robert FILLIOUFrozen Exhibition, 1972Felt-covered paper hat, 35 reproductions of photographs, 7 facsimile press clippingsDimensions variableEdition of 100 + 70 AP's
-
Robert FILLIOUOptimistic Boxes 1-4, 1968-1981Varying materials: terracotta, wood, plastic, stoneVarious sizes: 1) 11 x 11 x 11; 2) 12 x 9 x 2.5 cm; 3) 12 cm (h); 4) 9.5 x 16.5 x 11Unlimited edition
-
Robert FILLIOUPink Spaghetti - Handshake, 1965Pastel on paper between two pieces of glass on both sides, in wooden stand30.5 x 22.0 x 8.5 cmEdition of 30
-
Robert FILLIOUA Most Curious Invention of the Gaga Yogi, 1976Wood box surmounted by a clear plastic box containing one nail7.4 x 10.6 x 8 cmEdition of 100 plus 20 AP's
-
Robert FILLIOUJoker, 1969Two playing cards: a joker with the ace of spades glued to the verso, in a clear plastic pouch inscribed with: 'To who wants to know what I am and what others take me for. From Robert Filliou (as I am and people take me for)'Plastic pouch: 32.5 x 23.5 cm
Card: 17.8 x 11.7 cmEdition of 100 (+ 20 AP's) -
Robert FILLIOUA New Way to Blow Out Matches, 1980Wooden box containing a weighted spinning toy and a box of matches7.2 x 10.7 x 4.8 cmEdition 16 of 30
-
Robert FILLIOUArt ? Energie ?, 1980-1982Pastel on mirror, pastel on slate, painted wooden toy animals, electrical wire and plug164 x 21 x 22.9 cm
-
Installation view "Robert Filliou: Hony Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" at Richard Saltoun Gallery, London (5 Dec 2014 - 30 Jan 2015).
-
Installation view "Robert Filliou: Hony Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" at Richard Saltoun Gallery, London (5 Dec 2014 - 30 Jan 2015).
-
Installation view "Robert Filliou: Hony Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" at Richard Saltoun Gallery, London (5 Dec 2014 - 30 Jan 2015).
-
Installation view "Robert Filliou: Hony Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" at Richard Saltoun Gallery, London (5 Dec 2014 - 30 Jan 2015).
-
Installation view "Robert Filliou: Hony Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" at Richard Saltoun Gallery, London (5 Dec 2014 - 30 Jan 2015).
-
Installation view "Robert Filliou: Hony Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" at Richard Saltoun Gallery, London (5 Dec 2014 - 30 Jan 2015).
-
Installation view "Robert Filliou: Hony Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" at Richard Saltoun Gallery, London (5 Dec 2014 - 30 Jan 2015).
-
Installation view "Robert Filliou: Hony Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" at Richard Saltoun Gallery, London (5 Dec 2014 - 30 Jan 2015).
The first solo exhibition in London by the French Fluxus artist Robert FILLOU, under the artistic direction of François Curlet.
What happens when a radical French fluxus artist goes solo to London for the first time? Undoubtedly, he claims to infiltrate Her Majesty's court and set the ravens free.
The journey includes: Optimistic Boxes, Pink Spaghetti, Hand Shows, a Frozen Exhibition, the Whispered History Of Art, God, a peace demonstration, Unmade Portraits, a martial arts show, the Most Curious Invention of the Gaga Yogi, unrevealed overseas guests, special video sessions and the Deathless Dying of the World. British artists John Latham, Barry Flanagan and Tony Morgan, together with Irish artist James Coleman, are the four ravens that Robert Filliou will meet on his way to the Queen.
Will our artist ever manage to be introduced to Court?
Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense
One day, during a ball held at the court of King Edward III, the garter of Joan of Kent - his daughter in law - slipped down to her ankle, causing those around her to snigger at her humiliation. The King picked up the piece of underwear and tied it around his leg, stating "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" ("Shame be to him who thinks evil of it"). This phrase then became the motto of the British chivalric Order of the Garter. It can be found today on the cover of any British passport.
Robert FILLIOU (b. 1926 Sauve; b. 1987 Les Eyzies, France) was one of the most innovative artists of the second half of the20th Century. He challenged the role of art in everyday life and its status as a final product through conceptual strategies and innovative techniques, based on performance, chance, wit and play. The process-based approach of Filliou, united with his pursuit for an anti-individualistic art that could happen at any time and place, brought him close to George Maciunas and the other members of Fluxus; George Brecht (with whom he funded the non-gallery La Cedille Qui Sourit in Villefranche-sur-Mer, FR), Dieter Roth, Daniel Spoerri, and Emmett Williams.
Since the beginning of the '60s, Filliou's joyful and radical approach led to the creation of projects and events such as the Legitimate Gallery (a miniature art gallery that was contained inside the artist's hat), the Art's Birthday (a day dedicated to the birth of Art), the Permanent Creation (uniting reflection and action to creativity), the Constant Festival (an imaginary art network) and the Republic of Genius (where one's talent is not considered as a relevant factor to those who practice art).
Filliou was part of the French Communist party during WWII. He later travelled all over the world, working for Coca Cola in Los Angeles, where he also gained his Master in economics; he lived in Korea for 3 years (1951-54), working as a United Nations adviser during the Korean war, and later also lived in Egypt, Spain, and Denmark. In 1977 he moved to Canada, where he continued his works in video. Then he moved to France, spending 3 years, 3 months and 3 days in the Buddhist monastery of Les Eyzies with his wife before his death.
François CURLET (b. 1967 Paris, France) is a French artist living in Brussels, François Curlet's fields of interest seem to have no limits. Encouraging critical thinking through the use of padadoxes and clichés, his work is open to reinvention and surprise, using a vocabulary as close to joyful skepticism as it is to cynical laughter. François Curlet had a solo show at the Palais de Tokyo in 2013.
Roddy HUNTER (b. 1970, Glasgow, Scotland) is an artist, curator and educator. His performances have been held in major festivals, galleries, museums and arts centres across Asia, Europe and North America. He is Associate Professor and Director of Programmes in Fine Art at Middlesex University, London.