La Destitution de la jeune fille

Haines Gallery, January to April 2011. [http://www.hainesgallery.com]
gouaches, sculptures, and animations

text from the press release:

«Employing their characteristic lightness of touch to approach existential questions surrounding such topics as the function of art and politics in society, The Old Boys’ Club advances the notion of the young girl as embodiment of the capitalist machine and the meaninglessness of modern life. This concept, initially put forth by the anonymous
collective, Tiqqun, in its 1999 publication, Premiers matériaux pour une théorie de la jeune fille, is a post-Situationist theory in which society is described as submissive to the “figure of the Young Lady.” In their statement, The Old Boys’ Club writes: “Premiers Matériaux... is a controversial essay, insolent and impressive… yet the book doesn’t provide any possible solutions in order to change society. La Destitution de la Jeune Fille tries to humbly define some humorous territory where the Young Lady can be dethroned.”
The installation at YBCA features this “jeune fille” engaged in a battle with masked and costumed characters, their feathers, headdresses and textiles reminiscent of traditional Japanese, Javanese, and Native American dress. The stylized actions of these mixed race characters is Bonnenfant’s response to the struggle for cultural relativity in the post colonial “jumble” so often resultant from societal repositioning.
While the YBCA exhibition features a densely populated wallpaper installation incorporating video projection and sculptural elements, the collective’s works at Haines Gallery more formally present these figures as individual portraits and scene studies.»