When i-D first interviewed Marcel Dzama—the Canadian-born, Brooklyn based artist who counts Arcade Fire as collaborators—he was boogieing around David Zwirner's New York gallery in preparation for his Dadaist disco show, Une Danse des Bouffons. About a year later, Dzama again laced up his dancing shoes at the NY Art Book Fair, where he hosted a mini marathon of choreography from his video Death Disco Dance. Now, we're happy to announce Dzama's most ambitious dance related-project yet: a commission for the New York City Ballet's fourth annual Art Series.
Since 2013, the NYCB Art Series has brought original collaborations with contemporary art's brightest stars to the public during NYCB performances at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center (you might remember Dustin Yellin's 3,000 pound glass sculptures from last year). Dzama's multidisciplinary installation will continue themes explored in Une Danse des Bouffons: a different Marcel (Duchamp)'s chess obsession. Just like Dzama's Jester's Dance, the NYCB installation will feature video, drawings, and sculpture.
But Dzama's commission also marks the first time in NCYB's history that an artist has simultaneously created work for both the Art Series and a production. In addition to creating the Promenade installation, Dzama designed the sets and costumes for NYCB Resident Choreographer Justin Peck's winter season world premiere ballet, The Most Incredible Thing, which is based on a Hans Christian Anderson story.