A Genius Work Of Staggering Heartbreak
French conceptual artist Sophie Calle debuted her latest break-up obsession project at the Vienna Biennial last month.
In Prenez Soin de Vous (Take Care of Yourself), Calle takes an email by which her former lover dumped her (signing off, "Take care of yourself"), and has it analyzed by 107 women according to their respective professional expertise, including a proofreader, a judge, an expert in women’s rights at the UN, a French intelligence officer, translators, linguists, a chess pro, a family mediator, a clown, a puppet, and a psychoanalyst. It's translated from French into English, barcode, a crossword puzzle, origami, and the music of Feist.
If you believe in art therapy, you will believe in this. Regardless, it's a 107-strong chorus of brilliant women.
In Prenez Soin de Vous (Take Care of Yourself), Calle takes an email by which her former lover dumped her (signing off, "Take care of yourself"), and has it analyzed by 107 women according to their respective professional expertise, including a proofreader, a judge, an expert in women’s rights at the UN, a French intelligence officer, translators, linguists, a chess pro, a family mediator, a clown, a puppet, and a psychoanalyst. It's translated from French into English, barcode, a crossword puzzle, origami, and the music of Feist.
If you believe in art therapy, you will believe in this. Regardless, it's a 107-strong chorus of brilliant women.
I received an email telling me it was over.
I didn’t know how to respond
It was almost as if it hadn’t been meant for me.
It ended with the words, Take care of yourself.
I followed this advice to the letter
I asked 104 women (as well as two handpuppets and a parrot), chosen for their profession or skills, to interpret the letter.
To analyse it, comment on it, dance it, sing it. Dissect it. Exhaust it.
Understand it for me. Answer for me.
It was a way of taking the time to break up
A way to take care of myself.Sophie Calle
Thank you Sheila for showing me the link. 
She's one inventive woman. I myself have kept myself occupied with my own project. Project7Days has been redesigned and the first post is due in a week. Ging has been given her topic and she will conceptualize and produce her mini-project in 7 days. A response to her work will be posted the week after.
As of this post, there are currently 5 members of of P7D. We are limiting team members to a maximum number of 10 so we apologize if we are unable to include you. One more person has expressed her desire to join and I'm simply waiting for her promise of committing to deadlines, hehehe.
She's one inventive woman. I myself have kept myself occupied with my own project. Project7Days has been redesigned and the first post is due in a week. Ging has been given her topic and she will conceptualize and produce her mini-project in 7 days. A response to her work will be posted the week after.As of this post, there are currently 5 members of of P7D. We are limiting team members to a maximum number of 10 so we apologize if we are unable to include you. One more person has expressed her desire to join and I'm simply waiting for her promise of committing to deadlines, hehehe.
