Les Animaux modèles, Private View

Les Animaux modèles introduces the work of Matilda Barretta, Laura Bygrave, bill daggs, Yun Kim, Miro King and Kalman Pool, six contemporary artists invited to produce stage pieces for a forthcoming concert of Poulenc’s ballet score. The exhibition also contains two contextual works by influential modern artist Marc Chagall (1887 – 1985).

The concert performance of Les Animaux modèles, which will debut in the Princess Alexandra Hall on Friday 2 September is a cross-collaboration project conceived by pianist Joseph Havlat (2019 Keyboard Section Final winner at ROSL Annual Music Competition) which includes a new narration based on Jean de La Fontaine’s Fables present in the central six movements of the piece.

Les Animaux modèles (1940-42), was the third and final ballet composed by Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) and was originally staged at the Paris Opéra, premiering on 8 August 1942. Sections of the ballet are based on stories from Jean de La Fontaine’s Fables (1668-94), a classic of French literature with 239 fables over 12 volumes collected from a wide variety of Western and Eastern sources adapted into French free verse. The piece is in eight movements with the middle six being fables.

This exhibition is an opportunity to view examples of each artist's current practice in anticipation of this collaborative project. Displayed alongside the new narration and more information about the performance are two original hand-painted etchings by influential modern artist Marc Chagall (1887-1985), L'ours et les Deux Compagnons (1952) and La Mort et le Bûcheron (1952). Originally commissioned by the influential French art dealer Ambroise Vollard, Chagall’s Les Fables de la Fontaine is considered one of the great print suites of the 20th century and the two selected for this exhibition are directly referenced in Les Animaux modèles. This loan is generously provided by Goldmark Gallery, Rutland as one of only 85 sets hand-painted by Chagall himself.

Please note that due to the architecture of the building, disabled access for the exhibition is limited, please contact ROSL ARTS on [email protected] or on 020 7408 0214 x 213 for further information and to make arrangements.

Image 1: Marc Chagall, La Mort et le Bûcheron (1952) - Image courtesy of Goldmark Gallery, Rutland

Image 2: Kalman Pool, Couple (2021) - Image courtesy of the artist

Image 3: Miro King, Watch (2019) - Image courtesy of the artist

Image 4: Yun Kim, Study for The Beginning - white (2022) - Image courtesy of the artist