Alex Ayed: Farewell

For Open Space #12, Alex Ayed presents Farewell in Galerie 8, as part of the Open Space programme dedicated to contemporary art.

“In contemporary societies, contemplation—of clouds, the wind, a bird flying overhead, other sensory observations—seems to be only for the dreamer, but in reality, it is what is most essential for anyone living at sea. These elements, which on land would be described as ‘poetic,’ are vital for the sailor. These observations, which herald good or bad weather, or the state of the sea, enable the sailor to live in an environment that is as hostile as it is sublime.” —Alex Ayed, May 2023

Farewell is the first part of the Farewell Project, a multi-year, round-the-world sailing expedition. The exhibition presented here marks the launch of the journey. During the four months of this initial voyage, from the North Sea to the Mediterranean, the space of Gallery 8 will constitute the only link with the artist and the sailboat.

Alex Ayed and his crew have set off on a 14-meter steel ketch, now a writing and recording studio in perpetual motion. The data collected* is transmitted to the exhibition space via a custom-designed communication system. Suspended from the center is a 10-meter sculpture, resembling a radio antenna. On the walls, a weather station displays the boat’s GPS position along with the speed and direction of the wind whilst two metal boxes hold envelopes, drawings, organic elements, and ephemeral poems written and sent by the artist from the boat. Through the soundtrack filling the space, we hear the hypnotic sound of the waves lapping the boat and radio chatter. The variations in the lighting offer two experiences of this site-specific installation: during the day, a white, natural light, and at night, a contemplative blue light. Reflecting the state of the sea, this composition of objects, sounds, and lighting, translates the boat’s environment, and the daily experiences and observations of the artist and his crew while at sea.

Haunted by the elsewhere and driven by a quest for time, Alex Ayed is a traveler who triggers situations and plays with improvisation. He creates evolving works in the form of installations and assemblages, using words and objects collected during his encounters and peregrinations. From the desert to the oceans, his wanderings recall the adventure stories of a certain Romantic tradition, while simultaneously making us more aware of our contemporary societies caught in the grip of acceleration and hyperconnectivity.

An ode to slowness, Farewell is an exhibition in constant flux, its form dictated by the winds and tides. 

*Compiled during the voyage, this information, which will contribute to our knowledge of the oceans’ evolution, will be shared with several institutes for the purpose of scientific research.

Curators: Claudia Buizza and Ludovic Delalande

Farewell Project is presented in partnership with the Fondazione Merz and the Frac Pays de la Loire.

French-Tunisian artist Alex Ayed was born in 1989 in France. He lives and works at sea. He graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 2015. His work has been the subject of several solo exhibitions, including Owls and Promises, Kunstverein Freiburg, Germany (2022) ; Coyote à The Intermission, Greece (2022) ; Laws of Confusion, The Renaissance Society, Chicago (2021) ; Transumanza, ZERO…, Milan (2021) ; Roaring Forties, Balice Hertling, Paris (2020) ; Soap Opera, B7L9, Tunis (2019) and Exhibition 3, Institute of Arab and Islamic Art, New York (2019).

Alex Ayed is represented by Balice Hertling gallery, Paris

The Open Space programme
Open Space is a programme dedicated to the most contemporary expressions of creativity. Several times each year, national and international artists are invited to create specific projects for one of the galleries in Frank Gehry’s building. Open Space actively supports emerging contemporary creation, providing the opportunity for a first personal exhibition in a renowned institution and encouraging production of a new work.