A Project for the New York City Ballet
2016
In February 2016, the New York City Ballet debuted The Most Incredible Thing with sets and costumes designed by Marcel Dzama. Choreographed by New York City Ballet Resident Choreographer Justin Peck, the ballet is based on Hans Christian Andersen’s 1870 fairy tale of the same name.
The ballet project presented an opportunity for Dzama, who frequently collaborates with fellow artists and friends, to forge new partnerships. The creative forces behind the ballet—Brandon Stirling Baker (lighting), Bryce Dessner (score), Marcel Dzama, Justin Peck (choreography)—spoke about their collaboration on a panel in the Guggenheim museum's Works & Process series.
Dzama was also the first artist to simultaneously create work for the New York City Ballet's Art Series at the same time as a ballet production. During the premiere run of The Most Incredible Thing, an installation of Dzama's works occupied the promenade of the David H. Koch Theater at the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center. The installation featured two massive projections of a preview of Dzama’s film A Flower of Evil starring Amy Sedaris, as well as sculpture, drawings, and preparatory sketches related to the ballet's set and costume designs.
To accompany the ballet project, David Zwirner Books published The Book of Ballet (La chose la plus incroyable dans le monde). The book illustrates Hans Christian Andersen's story and includes Dzama's sketches of the ballet's sets and costumes. These drawings depict both final and preliminary designs, charting the artist's creative process. An interview between Dzama and choreographer Justin Peck concludes the book.