Sophie Calle

stalker conceptual artist

mingles facts and fiction

No friends, alone in this new city so she decides to follow people in the street. Discovered neighbourhoods she would never have gone to otherwise. She then decides to go with her camera. She then wrote about it: speculating about these strangers’ lives.

Investigation risk, taking, completely illegal, extremely intrusive, disturbing

Then turned it upside down: she hired a private detective to follow her and note every single movements however banal. Very interesting. Idea of attention

Reconstituted the essence of people by recording their empty flats whilst being the cleaner in a hotel.

She sets herself rules. Like a game. She is a character. Finds freedom in it. Following people is a way to find herself as well

Time place location very precise but not sure how reliable she is. She says it’s all autobiographical but there is no proof. Creates this whole mystery around her

Made a movie with her lover on a road trip. They fight and speak very honestly about their feelings towards each other but still agree to get married to create a climax in the film. The line between fiction and reality is blurred as they abandon themselves for the film they are creating. Open ended ness open practice.

I feel repulsion over attraction and curiosity over disinterest

Research

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