The Whitechapel Gallery presents the work of Laure Prouvost, winner of the fourth Max Mara Art Prize for Women.
Laure Prouvost’s short films and installations unhinge the connection between language and understanding, opening out new horizons of meaning. From 20 March – 7 April 2013 the Gallery presents new work created by the artist following a six-month artist-residency in Italy awarded as part of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women.
Prouvost’s new work references Roman murals and the pleasures of Italy. It comprises a large-scale structure recalling a visual panorama which will take over Gallery 1. A vast circular frieze is interspersed with monitors and painted Roman columns. This immersive environment leads to an idyllic inner space revealing a new 10 minute film by the artist. Fragments of footage allude to events and encounters from the artist’s residency split between the city of Rome and rural Biella in the north of Italy.
Exploring language and translation, the artist plays on the historic idea of visiting the Mediterranean for inspiration. The exhibition will tour to the Collezione Maramotti from 4 May to 10 November 2013, where the work will be acquired.
In advance of the exhibition on Thursday 29 November 2012, Laure Prouvost hosts an evening of music, discussion, food and drink, drawing on her Italian residency. The artist will be in conversation with Barbara Steveni, founder of the pioneering artists’ organisation the Artist Placement Group. Their discussion, covering inspiration, residencies and language will be accompanied by a performance from the Italian singer and composer Cristina Zavalloni, whose operatic interpretation of the discussion will unfold throughout the evening. This event has been organised in collaboration with the Collezione Maramotti and Teatri Reggio Emilia.
The biannual Max Mara Art Prize for Women promotes and nurtures female artists based in the UK, enabling each winning artist to develop their potential by producing new works of art during a six-month residency in Italy. The judges for this fourth edition of the Prize included Iwona Blazwick [Chair]; artist Lisa Milroy; art collector Muriel Salem; gallerist Amanda Wilkinson, and writer and critic Gilda Williams.
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