Julien Monnerie at Shanaynay

Artist: Julien Monnerie

Exhibition title: Julien M

Venue: Shanaynay, Paris, France

Date: November 27, 2015 – January 9, 2016

Photography: Paul Nicoué, images copyright and courtesy of the artist and Shanaynay, Paris

It’s nice to imagine a day neatly divided in three: eight hours’ labour, eight hours’ recreation, eight hours’ rest, with each segment possessing its own set of items and accessories specifcally tailored. That’s some role-playing that we could do, taking turns. I can work while you play and then we can both rest. I could go play where you work, I could be your customer and you could provide me with a service or some goods. Brancusi had hung a black curtain to separate his atelier from his living quarters. At the end of the day, we disrobe. The necktie, the cuffinks, the collar pins, they’re put in the drawer and we put on pajamas. The next day we switch it up and then cook something nice in the evening. Money is no concern because no one uses the gold standard anymore so everything is fair but nothing is. What doesn’t neatly ft in work-play-sleep is what we are left with.