by Harlow Essex

No matter how it’s done, breaking up is really difficult. Well, unless it is something you really want in which case, I imagine you would be thankful. I would guess though that the majority of people go through some kind of grieving, hating, slightly melodramatic process to “get over it”. Artist Sophie Calle is doing just that in the most extreme way I can think of.

Paris born Sophie Calle, 56, is interested in situations and encounters that she can construct. “Whether asking strangers to sleep in her bed, or inviting an author to take charge of her destiny, she documents social interactions that require a pact of complete trust.” -Whitechapel Gallery. From October 16 – January 2010 at the Whitechapel Gallery in London, Calle is exhibiting Take Care of Yourself, a collage of 107 women responding to a break up email written by Calle’s ex lover. So, in order to understand the contents of the email/letter from her ex, Calle asked women from all walks of life, from a lawyer to an anthropoligist, to a ballerina, to a clown, to interpret in their own way, what the letter really means. 

Intense to say the least, this exhibition brings to life how ridiculous and complicated breaking up can be. How does one make sense of “it” ending? In Sophie’s case, was the email honest, she wondered. Where or when did it go wrong? Instead of keeping the questions inside, she branched out to 107 different women in hopes of finding more answers. I wonder if she found them.

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