Justin Fitzpatrick
For his first institutional exhibition in France, Justin Fitzpatrick continues his exploration of human consciousness through the prism of biology.
The Italian term Ballotta refers to a small ball used to illustrate a vote in a ballot box. Its colour allows us to visualise the expression of a majority. A similar process is at work in the human body: multicellular organisms like our own constantly consult with the various organs of which they are composed.
The Ballotta exhibition studies the links between consciousness and multicellularity, and hypothesises that our thoughts are an assembly which federates the will of each of our body’s cells: rather than being unitary and coherent, it would then be an aggregate of various intentions — sometimes in tension with one another, other times in agreement. Justin Fitzpatrick introduces two series of brand-new paintings and sculptures, along with his first video piece. Through this outlandish fresco, the history of the first fertility treatments — synthesised from the urine of Italian nuns — crosses paths with that of mitochondria: our cells’ energy engines, which we share with all life on earth.
The Ballotta exhibition by Justin Fitzpatrick was selected by the sponsorship commission of the Fondation des Artistes, which provided its support. It also receives support from the individual aid for creation scheme in the Centre-Val de Loire region.