PALAIS DES BEAUX ARTS

The ceiling construction in the Hall d'Animation reflects the utopian notion, characteristic of the political climate of the '70s, of the global village: at the point where this construction comes together, it can either support the entire building or bring about its collapse. Fareed Armaly centers his video and his exhibition, "BREA-KD-OWN" on the socio-political issues raised by this structure.

The Palais des Beaux Arts has two entrances, both of which symbolize the promise and the shortcomings of institutions. One leads to the Hall d'Animation. In the '70s, the Hall of Sculpture was transformed into the Hall d'Animation because of the changing sociopolitical situation. At that time, the demand to initiate a forum for the public in an art institution was met by installing movable seating elements since fixed seating does not offer the viewer a choice of perspective. One of the main themes of Armaly's exhibition is the collapse of institutions--not as a loss or a gain, but simply as an evolutionary development: as an exploration of the connection between high culture and the public, between architectural and social space. What the interior architecture of the Palais offered as an unattainable promise, the artist analyzed in his video by filming found materials. …