Portraits fantômes

Ten years ago, Mickaël Phelippeau lived in Marine’s home for a week, knowing nothing about her. When he arrived, he did not even know he was living at a woman’s house. But, thanks to the photos on the wall above the sideboard, to the Céline Dion CDs, and the books and magazines lying about, he wrote and performed a portrait of this woman with whom one might say he got to know quite intimately. His encounter with Marine after the fact confirmed a strange proximity to his life but also a distance that gave him the feeling of being completely protected. The relationship between reality and fiction magnifies an impressive range of possibilities. Using this memory as his raw material, the artist offers us the opportunity to relive his adventure.

This is why, in April 2013, it was possible to read the following ad in the streets of Brétigny and in certain newspapers:

“Mickaël Phelippeau, choreographer, performer and visual artist, is looking for an apartment, studio, loft, house, castle, farm, or a shed in the region of l’Essonne where he can live for a minimum of 4 days, at some point between 29 April and 12 May 2013.The goal is to dream up a choreographed portrait of the occupant through his/her spaces, objects, music, books, etc. The occupant will leave their residence to Mickaël Phelippeau during this period in order for him to paint an implied portrait through the person’s contours. This will result in a public stroll through the different residences rented out to him after the 15-day period. The occupants and the artist will meet after the period of residence has ended, which may also lead to an interview.”

The premiere of this unique format took place in May 2013 in Brétigny, in partnership with the Théâtre Brétigny. The project continued in May 2014 at Le Quartz, in Brest (as part of the festival Les Humanités).

Portraits Fantômes, 2016
In partnerships with the Theater Freiburg, Fribourg-en-Brisgau, Allemagne
Photos : © M.Korbel

Potraits Fantômes, 2016
_In partnerships with the Théâtre Louis Aragon, scène conventionnée danse, Tremblay-en-France_
Photos : © Sylvie Françoise

See the interview of Mickaël Phelippeau by the Théâtre Louis Aragon, Tremblay-en-France (in french)