Yves Klein: Dreaming in the Dream of Others / Rever dans le reve des autres

The book Rêver dans le rêve des autres (Dreaming in the dream of others) showcases the work of Yves Klein alongside twelve Aboriginal artists, highlighting the non-arbitrary link between the French artist and the Australian Aborigines. Klein was fascinated by non-Western art, and his writings confirm his familiarity with Aboriginal motifs. In the 50s, Aboriginal art was seen as the survival of a vanished spirit, similar to the Neolithic.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 01 March 2023
Publisher: Mousse Publishing

Published on the occasion of the eponymous exhibition held at the Opale Foundation (in Lens, Switzerland), the book Rêver dans le rêve des autres (Dreaming in the dream of others) presents the work of Yves Klein alongside works by twelve Aboriginal artists (Angkaliya Curtis, Bardayal "Lofty" Nadjamerrek, Bill Whiskey Tjapaltjarri, Danie Mellor, Dhambit Munungurr, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Ignatia Djanghara, Paddy Bedford, Waigan Djanghara, Wattie Karruwara, Judy Watson, and Paji Honeychild Yankarr), showcasing how the link between the French artist and the world of the Australian Aborigines is anything but arbitrary.

Klein was deeply interested in the non-Western: works from his youth have been discovered in his archives that were later identified as copies of Aboriginal motifs, and his writings confirm that he was familiar with the cave paintings of north-western Australia. In the 1950s, Aboriginal art, which was little known, was seen not as the expression of a different spirit but rather as the survival of a vanished spirit, in short, that of the Neolithic: Yves Klein, like his parents, was fascinated by prehistory.

Klein's fascination with the non-Western world extended beyond art. He was also drawn to the music of Aboriginal peoples, and his writings suggest that he had a deep appreciation for their culture and traditions. In particular, he was interested in the didgeridoo, a wind instrument that is played by blowing air into a long tube with a mouthpiece. Klein's interest in the didgeridoo was likely influenced by his admiration for the work of Australian composer and musician Peter Sculthorpe, who was known for his use of Aboriginal sounds and themes in his music.

Despite his interest in the non-Western world, Klein was also deeply committed to his own culture and heritage. He was a French artist who was born in 1928 in Paris and who spent much of his career in the United States. However, he never lost sight of his French roots and remained proud of his French heritage. In fact, Klein's work often reflected his French cultural heritage, with themes and motifs that were inspired by French history, literature, and art.

One of the most notable examples of Klein's French cultural heritage in his work is his use of the color blue. Klein was a passionate advocate of the color blue, and he believed that it was the most important color in the world. He used blue in his paintings, sculptures, and even in his clothing and accessories. Klein believed that blue had the power to calm and soothe the mind, and he used it to create a sense of peace and tranquility in his work.

Another example of Klein's French cultural heritage in his work is his use of the symbol of the cross. Klein was a devout Catholic who believed in the power of the cross to bring peace and healing to the world. He used the symbol of the cross in his paintings, sculptures, and even in his clothing and accessories. Klein believed that the cross was a symbol of hope and salvation, and he used it to create a sense of spirituality and transcendence in his work.

Despite his commitment to his own culture and heritage, Klein was also open to the influence of other cultures and traditions. He was a cosmopolitan artist who was influenced by a wide range of artists and movements, from the ancient Greeks to the modernists of the 20th century. Klein's work was characterized by a sense of experimentation and innovation, and he was always willing to push the boundaries of what was possible in art.

In conclusion, Yves Klein was a French artist who was deeply interested in the non-Western world, particularly the music and culture of Aboriginal peoples. He was a cosmopolitan artist who was influenced by a wide range of artists and movements, from the ancient Greeks to the modernists of the 20th century. Klein's work was characterized by a sense of experimentation and innovation, and he was always willing to push the boundaries of what was possible in art. His fascination with the non-Western world, his commitment to his own culture and heritage, and his willingness to experiment and innovate make him a fascinating and influential artist who continues to be studied and admired today.

ISBN-13: 9788867495610