Public Books co-presents
with philosopher and psychologist Vinciane Despret and painter Alexis Rockman
moderated by Rice University Professor of English and writer Cary Wolfe
As part of its Fall 2013 season, the Drawing Center presents a selection of Alexis Rockman’s watercolor drawings, which served as the first stage in the development of the fantastical, imaginary world of Life of Pi, the 2012 feature film directed by Ang Lee. Rockman helped design the hallucinatory “Tigervision” sequence, in which Pi, following the tiger’s gaze over the side of the boat, plunges deep into his own oceanic subconscious, a surreal world of fabulous forms, familiar memories, and overwhelming loss. To explore some of the submerged themes of the exhibition, Alexis Rockman will speak with Vinciane Despret, a philosopher who specializes in animal study. In her latest book, Despret reveals our preconceived notions about what animals do, want, and even “think.” Rockman and Despret will discuss their mutual attempts to think with animals, and to pay homage to their vision of the world.
This event is part of the three events which Public Books is co-sponsoring—on October 15, 17, and 18—in the 2013 Walls and Bridges festival. Presented by the Lyon-based cultural institute Villa Gillet, Walls and Bridges is a 10-day series of performances and critical explorations that brings together French and American thinkers and artists from the social sciences, philosophy, literature, and the arts.