whitehot | December 2009, Sophie Calle @ Whitechapel Gallery

Sophie Calle; Police captain, F. G., detail Take care of yourself, 2007
Copyright ADAGP Courtesy Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris / Miami; Arndt & Partner,
Berlin / Zurich; Koyanagi, Tokyo; Gallery Paula Cooper, NY

Sophie Calle: Talking to Strangers
Whitechapel Gallery
77-82 Whitechapel High Street
London E1 7QX
16 October, 2009 through 3 January, 2010

Take Care of Yourself (2007) is the English language premier of Calle’s acclaimed multi-media installation Prenez Soin de Vous (note the formality of the ‘vous’). Borne as a response to a breakup letter received by email, the story has reached almost legendary status: Calle received an email from her lover, the mysterious X, who, after a convoluted, self-deprecating yet accusatory explanation, ends the email with the infamous ‘Take care of yourself.’ (It is safe to assume that X will never again break up with anyone via email). The French artist does precisely that, in typical Calle fashion. In her own words:

Ana Vukadin is a regular contributor to murmurART and FAD. She completed her MA in History of Art from the Courtauld Institute of Art, London, specialising in modern and contemporary art. • view all articles from this author