In conjunction with the exhibition of drawings by Christian Lacroix, whose autobiographical tone sometimes evokes an Arles belonging to a bygone era, the Listening Room (the museum’s space dedicated to sound art) invites visitors to rediscover René Jentet’s sound piece *Arles, the Bull, the Lions and Wally*. A childhood friend of the Arles-born artist and a nude model for Lucien Clergue in the 1950s and 1960s, Wally Bourdet, then barely 20 years old, inspired the artist and France Culture writer René Jentet to create this radio programme, which celebrates Arles through the cheerful banter of this colourful Arlesian woman.
Recorded on the banks of the Rhône one day in July whilst the radio station was on strike, this programme – born, therefore, of chance – seeks to capture the spirit of the ‘festivity’ that takes hold of Arles during the feria. Through Wally’s eyes and sensibility, it explores the world of bullfighting and seeks to capture the soul of a city scarred by war, where the fiery Lucien Clergue is fighting to introduce photography…
A broadcast organised with the Phonurgia Nova association, in partnership with the INA and with the support of the Arles Municipal Theatre (furniture)
To find out more about René Jenet: 2 podcasts on France Culture:
La Manade On 18 August 1970, René Jentet travelled to the Camargue to visit the master bull breeder Hubert Yonnet, accompanied by Maïté Duboquet.
René Jentet, une vie de radio A portrait of René Jentet by Christophe Deleu.
