The Sleepers

by Sophie Calle (Photographer)

Du 1er au 9 avril 1979, Sophie Calle invita 28 personnes à venir dormir chez elle. Entre texte et photos, Les Dormeurs sont réunis dans un livre.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Photography

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 5, 2001

About the author

Sophie Calle is a French writer, photographer, installation artist, and conceptual artist. Calle's work is distinguished by its use of arbitrary sets of constraints, and evokes the French literary movement of the 1960s known as Oulipo. Her work frequently depicts human vulnerability, and examines identity and intimacy. She is recognized for her detective-like ability to follow strangers and investigate their private lives. Her photographic work often includes panels of text of her own writing.

Reviews

[ninon · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW Fabrice Lucchini
le projet de la meuf c est de prendre un lit qui n est jamais vide en photo fallait me demander mon gars j aurais ronfle pendant une semaine sans souci

[Angelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

i liked that almost no one changed the sheets

[heyyonicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ces deux livres (les textes et les images) présentent à merveille l'entreprise originale de Sophie Calle "Les dormeurs". Bien que la forme soit presque des fois trop répétitive, on ne s'ennuie pas spécialement et les différents profils sont tous très intrigants. Le protocole mis en place est très claire et voir son développent au fil du projet est très intéressant aussi.

[Lewis White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concept of the study was really intriguing to me. The author/photographer’s matter of fact tone was entertaining. I thought it was funny how many of the participants were apprehensive about sleeping in the bed but still didn’t change the sheets. Interesting how people thought about the relationships between sleep, beds, and sex.

[Richelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Walker Art Center exhibited a retrospective of Sophie Calle’s work last year called “Overshare,” which I had the opportunity to see. “The Sleepers” was one of my favorite works, and it was fun to finally read the book that accompanied this conceptual piece.

The book contained more photos and text than what the exhibit displayed, which allowed readers and viewers to learn more about the people who became “the sleepers.” It was a fascinating, voyeuristic study about human nature, intimacy, and what sleep means to people. It was also obvious that some of the participants (mostly men) in this experiment were trying to portray themselves in more of an artistic, philosophical, or bourgeois light, but that only made them appear like pretentious oafs.

Calle’s work is worth seeing in person, but this book was a solid companion to the exhibit of the same title.

[Léonie Boudreault · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plus qu’un livre, cet objet est une démarche artistique sur le sommeil. En deux volumes (les récits et les photos), l’autrice nous confronte à une multitude de points de vue et de types de gens. Intéressant quoiqu’un peu lassant.

[Roxane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Calle is a genius and I love her and her work and that’s all I have to say about her

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an interesting concept. The photography felt so incredibly intimate, and the writing was quite enjoyable to read. Why did like none of them change the sheets though…