Quebec choreographer and teacher Manon Hotte, currently based in Geneva, gave a performative presentation on the creative process behind Blanc Mémoire—an archival installation she co-created with Swiss photographer and stage director Dorothée Thébert.
Blanc Mémoire emerged from both artists’ questionings regarding their respective practices and the role that memory and traces play in artistic creation. Their starting point was the development of the archival fonds Création, semis et palabres_Fonds Manon Hotte, which was finalized in 2017. This fonds is unique in that it is centred on both the conservation of works and creative processes. Manon Hotte and Dorothée Thébert were interested in getting the public involved in these processes, using performance venues as spaces for exchange and sharing. Their creative encounter resulted in Blanc Mémoire, an open-ended archival installation that invites audience participation. As visitors interact with the work by observing, reading, experiencing and responding, they get a tangible sense of what goes into creating a dance work. The installation is in turn enriched by each interaction.
To conclude her presentation, Ms. Hotte invited the audience to engage in a moment of exploration and leave a trace, a personal account, inspired by the work. The presentation is available in PDF format.
