Dance - Late Hours "Mark Rothko"

Film of her improvisation on Dialogue with Rothko
Music by Jean-Paul Dessy (a production by the Fondation Louis Vuitton, February 27, 2024)

-Video can be viewed in the Auditorium and on the Level 2 landing-

"Mark Rothko is an artist of deep harmonic perceptions. One stands before his paintings in a universal communication, seized with inexplicable impressions. Art goes beyond language and touches the soul with intensity and fervour. Therein lies the genius of Mark Rothko. His life was marked by beauty, doubt and torment, something with which every artist identifies. I took inspiration from Rothko and his life to create a solo. Dance and painting harbour the same potential: they allow those observing them to reflect on their inner world. A masterpiece always leads back to its creator." Carolyn Carlson 

Solo taken from Black Over Red (Dialogue with Rothko) by Carolyn Carlson
Musique by Jean-Paul Dessy

Is it complicity? Or loyalty? There is a bit of both in the artistic ties between Marie-Agnès Gillot and Carolyn Carlson. The beginning will feature Signes, a work by the American choreographer that the étoile dancer brings to life on the stage of Paris’s Opéra Bastille. Then Black Over Red, in which Carolyn Carlson seems to be dialoguing with Rothko. In a streamlined version, an excerpt of which is presented by the Fondation Louis Vuitton, Marie-Agnès Gillot proves to be an exceptional performer of the piece. The hands express a calligraphy of unblemished visual poetry, while the cello score by Jean-Paul Dessy adds another degree of force. Working within the space of the Fondation’s Gallery 8, surrounded by Mark Rothko's paintings, Carolyn Carlson's dance thrums with rare intensity. No grand écart or pointe work here – Marie-Agnès Gillot has moved on to other things: The dancer is simply as close as possible to movement. And to life.

Solo, excerpts from Dance by Lucinda Childs
Music by Philip Glass, Dance No.2

-Public performance in Gallery 4-

Some encounters seem destined to happen – they simply need a little nudge. Germain Louvet dreamed of dancing Lucinda Childs. Nothing could seem more natural than that. The étoile dancer of the Paris Opera Ballet has both the discipline of classical and an openness to contemporary. Lucinda Childs has blazed a trail across our time with her elegant, wildly inventive movement. The American choreographer has close ties with New York’s art scene, from Philip Glass to Sol LeWitt, and has never ceased to innovate. By tackling this solo taken from Dance, the artist’s seminal piece, Mr Louvet enters another choreographic dimension. “I think dancing is an emotional experience,” Lucinda Childs once said, a belief that is proven in this collaboration with the Paris Opera soloist. Dancing everything from Pina Bausch to Wayne McGregor, Mr Louvet continues to claim his place as one of the most well-rounded performers of his generation. This Rothko Late Hours event dedicated to movement is more than a pretext – it is a promise.

Solo, creation based on excerpts of works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

- Public performance in Gallery 4-

Marion Motin always has many plates spinning, whether she is working for her company or on a gigantic production, important film or major concert. Nevertheless, the choreographer is still an utterly committed dancer, perhaps more than ever before, and always interested in others. At the invitation of the Fondation, Ms Motin confronts the immensity of Mark Rothko’s painting, an artist she says forces her to confront herself: “His work is like a reflection of my soul.” Ms Motin sees herself “diving into his painting the way you dive into the sea.” A superb way of colouring outside the lines, so to speak. This solo performance is Ms Motin’s way of returning to the material, to the light. Created for the exhibition spaces, this choreography will reveal its mysteries during performances taking place very close to the audience. In her eyes, it is “emptying oneself out so as to nourish oneself again.” And to experience Rothko like a state of perpetual motion. 

GALLERIES ON LEVELS -1 AND 1

Every 30 minutes starting at the “Short Tours” meeting points

Cultural Guides are available to help you engage in exchanges within the "Mark Rothko" exhibition and gain a better understanding of the artist's works, which span from the mythological period to the "classical" period.

HALL 

At the bar, La Cantine du Marché provides a selection of responsible beverages such as organic and local beer, sparkling French cocktails, lemonades, and artisanal juices.
To eat, two guests: Friday Les Petites Pépites renowned for its homemade rolls filled with the best products of our terroirs and Saturday The French Bastards which revisits the classics by incorporating a good dose of creativity, of delicacies with an environmental and social ethic.