MEMOIRS  OF  A  DRESSING  GOWN    A  composi4on  by  Sylvie  DE  LIGNY  PALLEZ  

 A  tribute  to  the  inexhaus4ble  and  tenacious  human  quest  for  freedom  and  democracy.  

                       

©SdLP  

MEMOIRS OF A DRESSING GOWN A composition of three wall hangings Sylvie de LIGNY PALLEZ

A dressing gown is often an intimate garment kept for many years. While protecting our nudity, it also absorbs our confidential emanations. I have given an ancestral role to the one I used: a memory transmitter. Through the message it conveys, I pay tribute to the inexhaustible, tenacious quest for freedom and democracy, to worthy battles and victories. This gown was actually worn for many decades. As for humans, the crucial events of life have been burnt into its flesh, into its fabric and print. Eighteen icons have been lifted from this material. They each symbolize precise events undertaken by committed people who helped our world onward. They all mark memorable steps of progress and are worthy milestones to recall. To behold them all together on a single canvas renders a striking feeling of this quest’s tireless, ongoing power, in spite of continuous obstacles, waylays and momentary errors. All three wall hangings were created with bits and pieces of the dressing gown shown on the cover page. Some parts (the sleeves, a pocket) were used intact; the rest of the fabric was cut and used to compose the icons and the funnel. • Soaring high: 4.9 x 2.9 ft. The gown’s sleeves transmit a written history. The left one carries a message to all. The right reveals a list of positive events. • Humanity will save its skin: 8.5 x 4.5 ft. The eighteen icons of chosen memories are non-chronologically displayed on the same canvas. Their position can be interchanged, thus allowing different groupings and interpretations. Unsuspected links and similarities will then appear. The use of the same fabric and print is their common factor, uniting them throughout time. • The trash pocket”: 2.9 x 1.9ft. This third piece revolves around the gown’s pocket. Its purpose can be read on the mask-like funnel: “All of the horrors inflicted on the world, the tragedies and errors, the useless wars and genocides, the repression and apathy, are concealed in my pocket, where they should remain as only reminders to avoid relapse.”

MEMOIRS OF A DRESSING GOWN A composition of wall hangings Silk and leather on canvas SOARING HIGH The two sleeves convey the gown’s written history. The left sleeve reads: “I have lived my time….passionately.

Sixty years of service have made me willing to share happenings which have saved humanity’s skin. Events that have gradually yet assuredly changed our world. Through such intimate contact, my fibres ravenously absorbed confident dreams and expectations, worthwhile fights for freedom and democracy. As icons of great accomplishments, these victories are now interwoven in my print. They are the pillars of a better world in the making… where the lives of others matter, where putting ourselves in their shoes is a fundamental value. I entrust you with these positive milestones. As you continue the road, it is now up to you to keep them in mind.

To let them into the fabric of your being.” On the right sleeve, eighteen milestones: Gandhi’s heritage. Non violence. Marches for peace and freedom. Anti-Vietnam war demonstrations. Pacifist mobilisations. Humanitarian aid organisations. Unicef, Doctors without Borders, Abbé Pierre… Spring 1968. Student protest. The Prague Spring. A wave of rebellion in the world. Contraception and abortion rights. Women’s freedom of choice. The Hippy movement. Peace and love. A revolution of manners. Judgement of major war criminals and crimes against humanity. Successive decolonisation throughout the world. In North Africa, Africa, India. The Carnation revolution in Portugal. First non violent revolution. The downfall of dictators. Their statues collapse. Peoples are freed. The fall of the Berlin Wall. Rostropovich plays. The East-West opening. The West Eastern Diwan Orchestra as example. The listening between warring nations. The end of Apartheid in South Africa. Mandela set free and elected. Parity between men and women. Step by step. Still ongoing. Children’s rights. The fight against abuse inflicted on children. March of the Tibetan monks. The active freedom quest of a people. From the Freedom Riders, Luther King, to Obama. Fighting segregation. Technological and medical progress. The image and computer revolution.

SOARING  HIGH:  4,9%/2,9%  The  sleeves  ,  elements  of  the  robe  and  mirrors  on  canvas  

 HUMANITY  WILL  SAVE  ITS  SKIN::  8,5%/  0,5%    Elements  of  the  robe’s  fabric,  leather  on  canvas  

THE  TRASH  POCKET:2,9%/1,9%    The  pocket,  other  elements  of  the  robe  and    leather  on  canvas          The  message  on  the  funnel:  «  All  of  the  horrors  inflicted  on  the  world,  the  tragedies  and  errors,  the  useless  wras  and  genocides,  the  repression  and  apathy,  are  concealed  in  my  pocket  where  they  should  remain  as  only  reminders  to  avoid  relapse.  »                

THE  DRESSING  GOWN  

       The  Peace  and  Love  years  

       The  1968    wave  of  rebellion  in  the  world  

       Gandhi’s  example.  Pacific  movements  

         Decolonisa4on  

         An4  war  movements  and  marches  

           War  criminals  and  crimes  against  humanity  :  on  trial  

         Humanitarian  aid  organisa4ons  

         The  downfall  of  dictators  

       Non  violent  revolu4ons    

       The  Est-­‐  West  opening  

           The  listening  between  waring                                    na4ons.  Art  as  an  example  

         A  country’s  quest  for  freedom  

         The  ongoing  ba_le  against  segrega4on  

       The  end  of  Apartheid  

       Women’s  freedom  of  choice  

         Children’s  rights.  The  fight  against  abuse  

       Parity  between  men  and  women.  An  ongoing  quest  

         The  technological  and  computer  revolu4on  

SYLVIE de LIGNY PALLEZ Franco-canadian artist and performer Contemporary dancer, choreographer

109 rue Saint Dominique, Paris 75007 01-47-05-13-24 / 06-07-32-26-63

Mail : sylpallez@gmail.com Wall hangings and objects of art Exhibitions and commissions Multidisciplinary art projects

Being both Canadian and French, my art has been deeply influenced by both

cultures. Very early, I chose to work with different mediums. I often use recycled materials, giving them a second, meaningful artistic life: leathers, fabrics, canvas, wood, as well as modern man-made materials interesting to explore such as cellophane, plastics…

I have always explored different fields of expression. I create wall hangings, triptychs, various mobiles, furniture, household objects and plan to continue expanding my artistic reach.

I am also a professional contemporary dancer and performer. I have always managed to make these facets interact in diverse and interesting ways, such as exhibiting and dancing during the same event.

I organise multidisciplinary art projects, combining dance, music, theater and art in different contexts and in that respect have worked in hospitals, art fairs, theaters and schools.