Philippe Parreno: Hypothesis

“Hypothesis” is the first survey exhibition in Italy of French artist Philippe Parreno. The show, curated by Andrea Lissoni, will be inhabited by a series of key pieces together with recent works and music that will radically transform the perception of the industrial space of HangarBicocca.

Over the last twenty years Parreno has redefined the experience of the exhibition exploring the possibilities beyond the presentation of single artworks. He conceives his exhibitions as choreographed spaces that follow a script where a series of events unfold. Parreno’s work attracts large audiences of different backgrounds and interests and his practice – that spans a diversity of media including film, video, sound, writing and drawing – has always explored the borders between reality and its representation utilizing the vocabulary and means typically associated with a variety of media such as radio, television, cinema and, recently, information technology. Re-launching the tradition of the avant-garde artist engaged with many cultural disciplines Parreno questions the concept of authorship working in collaboration with many highly influential artists, architects or musicians.

Andrea Lissoni, curator of the exhibition, said: «“Hypothesis” can be considered an experimental model for a solo show, in which different existing works are recombined for just the duration of the exhibition, becoming a temporary installation, and then getting back their individual lives and status after the show itself has ended. “Hypothesis” is a hypothesis for a time-based exhibition in which beginning and end are no longer located in the space but dispersed in time, enabling a never ending iridescent experience of the artworks as well as of the venue.»

“Hypothesis” is part of the programme of exhibitions created by Vicente Todolí. It is being presented in the “Navate” space in conjunction with “Casino”, a solo show by Damián Ortega (in the “Shed” exhibition space until 8 November 2015).

About the artist
Philippe Parreno (b.1964, Oran) lives and works in Paris. He has exhibited in numerous international institutions, his most recent solo shows include: “H{N)Y P N(Y}OSIS” Park Avenue Armory, New York (2015) and could be seen as complementing the show at HangarBicocca; Schinkel Pavillon, Berlin (2014); Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2013); The Garage Museum for Contemporary Culture, Moscow (2013); Fondation Beyeler, Riehen/Basel (2012); Serpentine Gallery, London (2010); Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris (2009). He featured at the Lyon Biennale (1991, 1997, 2003, 2005) and has participated in the Venice Biennale (1993, 1995, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2015). Parreno has also co-curated numerous exhibitions including “Solaris Chronicles” at the LUMA Foundation, Arles (2014) and “Il Tempo Del Postino” at the Manchester International Festival (2007). Parreno acted as a metteur-en-scène for “Dancing around the Bride” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (2012) and then presented at the Barbican Centre in London (2013).