Mastication des morts

The theatrical performance held in Paris in 2011 was titled “La Masticazione des Morts,” inspired by Patrick Kermann’s eponymous book. This collection of stories unfolds as they are narrated to the protagonist during a night spent in a cemetery. The tales belong to various characters inhabiting the cemetery. As the narrative progresses, the audience grapples with whether the protagonist hears these voices in a dream or if he himself is truly dead.

The three large canvases forming the backdrop evoke an imagined or abstract landscape, while the grand branch descending from above adds an element of ambiguity. It is unclear whether this is a tree branch or part of a root, which further blurs the setting of the story, making it uncertain whether it takes place above or below ground.

With the entire scene rendered in black and white, the lighting and its color variations play a crucial role in altering the perception of the set throughout the tales.

Technical data:
Indian ink on canvas
Carton