Jérôme Bel
The Museum of Modern Art periodically invites contemporary artists to organize installations drawn from MoMA’s collection as part of an exhibition series titled Artist's Choice.
When the Museum invited Jérôme Bel in 2016 to be the first choreographer to participate, he shifted his focus from the artworks in the Collection to the Museum's staff, and likewise, to the care and labor necessary to maintain the collection. Bel also became interested in the relationship between the Museum’s employees to specific artworks, the institution, and even, dance. Eventually, Bel decided to turn his Artist’s Choice exhibition into a performance: MoMA Dance Company.
The following ungraded stills are from an unreleased short documentary of the Dance Company's casting, rehearsals and feedback sessions. View an excerpt of a performance here.
Diana Pan, Chief Technology Officer, is the first staff member to present her routine to Jérôme Bel while remaining staff follow her lead.
Jérôme Bel shares his observations following Diana's presentation.
Melanie Monios, Assistant Director of Special Programming and Event, leads staff to an energetic disco number.
Jérôme discusses casting selects and order of participants during a rehearsal break.
"We are at the opera now," exclaims Jérôme, encouraging the music to be raised higher.
"You have to do everything. You don't know the meaning, it's like a hieroglyph. You have to study it." Jérôme reminds staff to reminder to perform as many details of each performer's choreography.
Rehearsals continue under Jérôme's watchful eye.
Visitors gather in the Museum's walkways to catch a bird's eye view of MoMA Dance Company performances.
Staff and visitors talk after the show concludes in the Museum's Marron Atrium.