Memories of Utopia: Jean-Luc Godard’s “Collages de France” Models will be closing this weekend at Miguel Abreu Gallery’s Orchard Street location. The exhibition by the 87-year-old French-Swiss filmmaker, best known for his contributions to French New Wave cinema such as Breathless (1960) and Weekend (1967), features sculptural work originally presented in Paris at the Centre Georges Pompidou during the 2006 retrospective dedicated to him.

Nine architectural maquettes created by Godard from 2003 to 2005, along with 9 corresponding models made in collaboration with set designer Jacques Gabel, are being exhibited for the first time since the Pompidou show. They initially served plans for a large, multiroom installation to be part of the retrospective (which, in an unusual move, Godard himself was invited to help curate). Visitors would move through rooms like “Myth,” “The Camera,” “The Tomb,” in a sort of expanded, immersive cinema. However, much to Godard’s dismay, the installation was never realized at the Pompidou. Instead, the models were relegated to an obscure corner of the exhibition.

The models feature motors, lights, mirrors, ephemera, and text, dealing with cinema, myth, and metaphor in miniature space. In addition to the maquettes, there are displays of drawings and diagrams related to producing the exhibition, a presentation of some of Godard’s cinematic work, and a short video by Swiss filmmaker, and partner of Godard, Anne-Marie Miéville.

The exhibition is on view through March 11 and is dedicated to the memory of Dan Talbot.

Memories of Utopia: Jean-Luc Godard’s “Collages de France” Models
Miguel Abreu Gallery
36 Orchard Street
New York, NY
Through March 11