Henri Chopin
Henri Chopin (1922-2008) was a visionary artist of his time. He was not only artistically significant but as a person involved in cultural and political events, witnessing some of the most important political and artistic events of the past century.
Chopin’s oeuvre includes concrete and sound poetry, sculpture and painting. Language, whether written or spoken, began to develop as his main theme, not only in his artistic work but also in his life. Chopin consistently attempted to reveal the human voice in its purest form, calling it "the raw primal voice of humanity”, thus producing the material quality of language anew. What exists as the unsayable is transformed by sonic and descriptive aspects that trigger what he calls “affective communications”, where communicating the unsayable outlines "a policy field of affect”. Henri Chopin resisted the omnipotence of the word as he writes in his article Why I Am The Author of Sound Poetry and Free Poetry: "... one cannot continue with the all-powerful word, the word that reigns over all".
In our time, when a new, networked, public media has been transformed, in immeasurable dimensions, into an instrument of word manipulation and the instability and performativity of the sign and it's meaning has been trapped as hostage to the current media’s "dispute about the truth”, it seems indispensable to evoke forms of affect, that lead us to other experiences and reflections on our existence and cohabitation. The surviving potentiality, resists actual regressive conditions through the reexamination of this critical and artistic form.
Biography
born 1922 in Paris/FR
died 2008 in Dereham/UK
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2019
Lutte Poétique, Georg Kargl Fine Arts, Vienna
2017
Graphpoemachines, at Supportico Lopez, Berlin
Henri Chopin: From Concrete to Liquid to Spoken Worlds to the Word (retrospective), Centre
d'Art Contemporain, Geneva
2014
Henri Chopin – Dans L’Essex, Firstsite, Colchester
2013
Gratte Ciel Hors Commerce, New Jerseyy, Basel
L’Énergie Du Sommeil, 1M3, Lausanne
La Crevette Amoureuse, Supportico Lopez, Berlin
2012
Revue OU – Cinquième Saison: An Anthology of Sound Poetry, Argos, Brussels
OU OU OU: Henri Chopin and Revue OU, Summerhall, Edinburgh
2011
Henri Chopin and the OU Magazine, Fundação de Serralves Porto
Neonlicht#1 – Henri Chopin in het archief Paul De Vree, M HKA, Antwerp
2010
In Neapel, Supportico Lopez Gallery, Berlin
HENRI CHOPIN, Supportico Lopez Gallery, Berlin
2008
Henri Chopin, Three Minutes, Cubitt Gallery, London
2005
LES FILTRES DE L’ ALPHABET ET DE L’€, Fondazione Morra, Naples
1998
Henri Chopin, Sonic Memory, Norwich Gallery, Norwich
1993
Henri Chopin: Revue OU, Collection OU, Neues Museum Weserburg, Bremen
1991
Assessorato alIa Cultura, Rome
1989
Galerie Le Lieu, Québec
Galerie Krief, Paris
1988
Galerie Convergence, Nantes
1987
Galerie J & J Donguy, Paris
Galerie Brigitte Schehadé, Paris
1985
Galerie Hundertmark, Cologne
1984
Third Eye Centre, Glasgow
1983
Henri Chopin: Revue OU, Collection OU, Neues Museum Weserburg, Bremen
Centre Pompidou, Paris
Anzart in Hobart, Tasmania
1979
Poesia Sonora, Studio Santandrea, Milan
Palais Jacques Coeur, Bourges
Jordan Gallery, London
1975
Greenwich Theatre Gallery, London
Galeria Akumulatory, Poznan
1974
Henri Chopin: Ideas Gallery, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London
1972
Ceolfrith 18: Henri Chopin, Ceolfrith Arts Centre, Sunderland
1968
Fulham Gallery, London
1966
Galleria Alpha, Modena
1963
Galerie Riquelme, Paris
1962
Galerie Saint-Laurent, Brussels
Groupe Rijklin, Bruges
Selected Group Exhibitions
2020
Fuckers, Galerie der Stadt Schwaz, Schwaz
2018
A Matter of Printing, Supportico Lopez, Berlin
2017
New Pleasure, with Merlin Carpenter, Henri Chopin, George Condo, Dexter Dalwood, Latifa Echakhch, Hans-Peter Feldmann, Kim Gordon, Hilary Lloyd, Claudio Parmiggiani, Steven Parrino, Richard Prince, Matana Roberts, Alan Vega, Christopher Wool – Simon Lee Gallery, New York, NY
From the truer world of other: Typewriter Art from PAMM’s Collection, Pérez Art Museum Miami, FL
This is a Voice, Museum of Applied Arts & Science, Ultimo
Sites of Knowledge, Curated by Melissa Bianca Amore & William Stover, Jane Lombard Gallery, New York, NY
Integration Alone is not Enough: Selected Works of British Concrete Poetry 1960-1980, Richard Saltoun Gallery, London
2016
Poésie Balistique, with Marcel Broodthaers, Henri Chopin, Liz Deschenes, Thomas Hirschhorn, Scott Lyall, Dora Maurer, Helen Mirra, Dominique Petitgand, Christopher Williams, Channa Horwitz and others, La Verrière – Hermès Fondation Brussels
Concerning Concrete Poetry, Badischer Kunstverein, Karlsruhe
2015
Poem N°0000000000000000000000000000,9 with Julian Beck, Adriano Costa, Lenora de Barros, Natalie Häusler, James Hoff, Karl Holmqvist, Zin Taylor, curated by Supportico Lopez, Mendes Wood DM, São Paulo
La mot et la chose, Galerie Natalie Seroussi, Paris
Collecting Lines – Drawings from the Ringier Collection, Villa Flora, Winterthur
PÊCHE DE NUIT (oh well ah well yes well) / A project of Supportico Lopez, RaebervonStenglin, Zürich
OU: UR: SOURCE, La Plaque Tournante, Berlin
2014
Go and come back, with Julian Beck, Marco Bruzzone, Henri Chopin, J. Parker Valentine, Supportico Lopez at Paradise Garage, Los Angeles
Der Leone Have Sept Cabeças, Crac Alsace, Altkirch
… all silent but for the buzzing …, Royal College of Art Galleries, London
2013
Revue Ou, Poesie Sonore, Poesie Ouverte, Poesie Konkret 1964-1974, Oslo 10, Münchenstein
Homes & Gardens, Freedman Fitzpatrick, Los Angeles
Poetry & Performance, with Ida Applebroog and Gina Pane, Richard Saltoun, London
Anton Voyls Fortgang /A Void, with Guy De Cointet and Channa Horwitz, Kunstsaele Berlin, Berlin
Vocal Folds, Gertrude Contemporary, Melbourne
Die dritte Dimension, with Natalie Häusler, Giulio Delvé, Maria Adele Del Vecchio, Supportico Lopez at Frutta Gallery, Rome
Anton Voyls Fortgang /A Void, with Guy De Cointet and Channa Horwitz, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf
2012
It’s When It’s Gone That You Really Notice It, Simone Subal Gallery, New York
Face to Face, Deakin University, Melbourne
Ecstatic Alphabet/Heaps of Language, MOMA, New York
2010
Novel, Dépendance, Brussel
2009
Poor. Old. Tired. Horse., ICA, London
1967
Henri Chopin, Julien Blaine, Francois Dufrene and HW Muller, concert at Musée d’art Modern de Ville de Paris
Selected Press
2013
Astrid Mania, Henri Chopin, Supportico Lopez, Artforum, September, p. 425
Vincenzo Latronico, Henri Chopin’s “La Crevette Amoureuse”, Art Agenda, May
2012
Tim Griffin, Ecstatic Alphabets / Heaps of Language, Artforum, December, pp.238-241
2011
Why I am the author of sound poetry and free poetry, Nero, No. 27, Autumn, pp.59-66
2009
Limitless Voice(s), Intensive Bodies: Henri Chopin’s Poetics of Expansion, Mosaic, Vol. 42, No. 2
1983
Nicholas Zurbrugg, The Limitations of Letterisme: An Interview with Henri Chopin, Visible
Selected publications
2015
En Guises d’Autobiographie Forcément Incomplète, Lemon Melon & Richard Saltoun Gallery, London
2014
Henri Chopin, De la Démocratie / Of Democracy, Motto Books & Supportico Lopez, Berlin
2013
Anton Voyls Fortgang/A Void, Henri Chopin, Guy De Cointet and Channa Horwitz, Spector Books, pp. 27-29, Leipzig
2008
Ed. Giannantonio Morghen, Henri Chopin, Espace Frémissant, Associazione Renzo Cortina, Milan
2007
Le Cahier du Refuge 162, Centre International de Poésie, Marseille
2006
Graphpoemesmechine, Zero Gravità, Biella
2002
J’ose! – défier, Archivio F. Conz, Verona
2001
Panorama, Ottezec Editions, Geneva
1994
Hors-l’or (Appel à L’orage de L’oral), Cahiers de nuit, Caen
1993
Ed. Richard Meyer, - & +, Voix Editions, Montigny
1992
NAISSANCE REELLE (clartés de la poésie sonore), Berenice Editions, Rome
Les Hippocampes Noirs, Agius Editions, Geneva
Ed. Henri Chopin and Paul Zumthor, Les Riches Heures de l’Alphabet, Edition Traversière, Paris
Ed. Nicholas Zurbrugg and Marlene Hall, Henri Chopin, Queensland College of Art Gallery
1991
Alphabet pour Gratte-Ciel, Galerie Jordan Editions, Paris
L'esperluette et Ie Couillard (Légende), Atelier d'art LP Rougier Editions, Ivry-sur-Seine
Poème Froufroutant Électronique, Lô "Ie bibelot" Editions, Verson
1990
Squelette du Verbe et Alentour, B.G. Lafabrie Editions, Paris
Graphèmes en Vibrance, Petit Classique du Grand Pirate Editions, Chelles
Mil 1000 Mille Dates, Guy Schraenen Editions, Antwerp
Squelette du verbe et alentour, B.G. Lafabrie Editions, Paris
1987
Petit Livre des Riches Heures Signistes et Sonores, J & J Donguy Editions, Paris
Passementeries, Ottezec Editions, Nîmes
Henri Chopin, Galerie Brigitte Schéhadé, Paris
1986
Ray to the Rays, Francesco Conz, Verona
1985
La Conference de Yalta, Edizioni Morra, Naples
1984
Enluminures, Edizioni Morra, Naples
The Last Book of the Rich Alphabetical Hours of the Chopins, Third Eye Centre, Glasgow
1982
Concerto en Zhopin Mineur, Artista, Paris
16 Typewriter Poems, Edition Armin Hundertmark, Cologne
1980
Three Tubes, Coriander Studio, London
1979
Henri Chopin – Poésie Sonore Internationale, Jean-Michel Place Editions, Paris
1978
Portfolio Chopin, Editions Ottezec. With Cozette De Charmoy and William S. Burroughs, Geneva
1976
Henri Chopin, The Cosmographical Lobster: A Poetical Novel, Gaberbocchus Press, London
1975
À propos de OU, Revue OU/Cinquième Saison, E. Veys Editions, Tielt
Chronique 74, Revue OU/Cinquième Saison, Ingatestone
Portrait des 9 (Marche Commun), Guy Schraenen Editions, Antwerp
Signs/Signes, Ruby Editions, London
1974
Henri Chopin: Ideas Gallery. Graphics, Objects and Other Poems, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London
1972
Le Cimetière, Henry Fagne Editions, Brussels
Ceolfrith 18, Ceolfrith Press, Sunderland
1970
Le Dernier Roman du Monde, Cyanuur Editions, Brussels
Pêche de Nuit. Notes for 45rpm record in Le Dernier Roman du Monde, Editions Cyanuur, Wetteren
1969
Uncorrect poem for Henri Chopin, Openings Press, Woodchester
1967
Why I am the Author of Sound Poetry and Free Poetry, Festival de Fort Boyard, in: Revue OU 30/31, Musée d’art Moderne, Paris
1958
Ed. Tour de Feu, Chants de Nuit. Jarnac
L’arriviste, Caractères, Paris
1957
Présence, Revue Poésie Nouvelle, Paris
Regard Tota
Chants de Nuit, Tour de Feu , Jarnac
Signes, Caractères, Paris
Selected discography
1994
Staccati en glissando: pour une voix humaine (radiophonic music)
Henri Chopin, les 9 saintes-phonies: a retrospective
1979
Les Chuitantes Respirant
1973
You Vetigo Vertige
1972
Poésie Sonore, S Press
1971
Audiopoems, Tangent Records, UK
Gallery Exhibitions
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