Joie noire

Investigating the possible connections between death and disco, Jimmy  Robert’s performance starts by examining two bodies in the context of club dancing. How are bodies visible? What is the role of desire? What’s  left when the party is over? At the heart of this dissection of the cultural codes and uses of nightclubs – these spaces where rhythm, sensuality and underground culture blossom – the vernacular language of the dancefloor emerges. With Joie noire, the visual artist and performer proposes a sharp and meditative reflection on the legacy of  the 1980’s, and particularly the impact of AIDS on activism, especially  when it comes to questions like gender or race. Dedicated to Ian White  (1971-2013), a performer, writer and curator Jimmy Robert had worked with, and whose work challenged institutional art productions, the piece also subtly and flamboyantly highlights the influence of this artist on contemporary performance.

Source: programme of the CND