Camille Henrot: Play Your Part — POSTPONED

Overview

Camille Henrot has been posted until mid-2021.

You might not ever learn all the secrets of the universe, but you can bet you'll be inspired to try when French-born contemporary artist Camille Henrot hits NGV International for her first Australian survey of works. Showing from Friday, May 22, to Sunday, October 4, free exhibition Camille Henrot: Play Your Part embraces the artist's signature playful approach to asking and answering life's big questions.

Among the diverse, wide-roaming exhibition, you'll find Henrot's large-scale installation The Pale Fox 2014 — an accompaniment to the artist's 2013 short film Grosse Fatigue, which won the Silver Lion at the 55th Venice Biennale. A reflection on how we use objects to help make our own sense of the world, the room-sized work features a sprawling collection of over 500 artefacts, including photos, books, Henrot's own art projects, and bits and pieces from Ebay.

Elsewhere, a series of new watercolour works taps into ideas around human psychology, while an interactive collection of telephone sculptures will have you answering quirky questions — be prepared for probing questions about your sex life — from an unknown caller.

Some famed Henrot pieces already featured in the NGV collection will also make an appearance, including 2017 3D film Saturday — a musing on links between Seventh-Day Adventist practices and the society's preoccupation with dieting, transparency and ageing — and a humorous glimpse at the oft-scorned Monday, titled Contrology.

Camille Henrot, The Pale Fox (2014). Collection of the artist, New York. Copyright Camille Henrot. Courtesy of the artist and kamel mennour, Paris/London; König Galerie, Berlin; Metro Pictures, New York. Photo by Andy Keate

Image one: Camille Henrot, Bad Dad & Beyond from the Interphone series (2015). Copyright Camille Henrot. Courtesy of the artist and Metro Pictures, New York. Image two-three: Camille Henrot, The Pale Fox (2014). Collection of the artist, New York. Copyright Camille Henrot. Courtesy of the artist and kamel mennour, Paris/London; König Galerie, Berlin; Metro Pictures, New York. Photo by Andy Keate. Image four: Camille Henrot, Saturday (2017), National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Purchased, NGV Supporters of Contemporary Art, 2018. Copyright Camille Henrot.