A vontade de saber, 2012-2017
A vontade de saber (The will to knowledge) consists of an arrangement formed by the first edition of the book Histoire de la sexualité I – La volonté de savoir (1976), by Michel Foucault (1926-1984), from the collection Bibliothèque des Histoires, entirely perforated in the word in French “par” (“by”) Michel Foucault, present on the cover of Éditions Gallimard, and crossed by a flower, a natural anthurium.
The stem of the flower has to penetrate the book placed on a “neutral” display and/or that is in dialogue with the exhibition in question. It should be replaced every three days.
The anthurium – preferably red, but if not possible, pink or white – when passing through the book, is balanced by its weight. Therefore, the stem that supports the heart-shaped flower with the erect spadix crosses the entire book placed on the base. A type of ornamental flower present in vases and interior decoration, anthurium is also present in landscaping and is native to tropical regions. In Umbanda, the plant pleases the Exus, being used as an offering and for spiritual cleansing. This red heart-shaped part is called the bract and has the function of attracting pollinators to the plant, since the flowers are the small dots that are around the spadix – the ear.
The will to knowledge is Michel Foucault's first book on the Histoire de la sexualité, in which the philosopher presents a look at sexuality and its Western historical context based on power relations and the analysis of knowledge about sex.
Thiago Honório, January 2017.
Work Details
A vontade de saber [The will to knowledge], 2012-2017
1st edition of the book Histoire de la sexualité 1 – La volonté de savoir, by Michel Foucault (1976), Bibliothèque des Histoires collection, perforated in the French word “par” Michel Foucault and crossed by a natural anthurium
12 x 18,5 x 1,5 cm (book) + anthurium (variable dimensions)
Ed.: 6 + 2 A.P.
photo: Edouard Fraipont
Exhibitions
Leituras, Biblioteca Mário de Andrade, SP, 2024
O mais profundo é a pele, Belizário Galeria, SP, 2023