— Slammm, Ramble, Perform. A monograph | 2018
Ria Pacquée

The immediate impetus for the publication of this monograph was the occasion of two major exhibitions: Slammm, Ramble, Perform at De Warande in Turnhout (June 2018) and a large-scale solo exhibition, They are looking at us, we are looking at them, at the Middelheim Open Air Sculpture Museum in Antwerp during the summer of 2019. Published by Occasional Papers (London) and co-initiated by the Antwerp nonprofit organization Escautville, the book is generously supported by Flanders State of The Art.

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RIA PACQUÉE: SLAMMM, RAMBLE, PERFORM

represents the most comprehensive mapping of Pacquée’s oeuvre to date, offering a sweeping overview of her diverse body of work. While not intended as a catalogue raisonné, the monograph provides a panoramic perspective on the artist’s tireless and highly relevant artistic practice. It illuminates Pacquée's multifaceted engagement with performance, public space, and ritual, while drawing attention to her lasting influence on contemporary art.

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Delving deep into her own archives, Pacquée contributed numerous previously unpublished photographs and documents, complemented by her own concise and poetic reflections. The book is structured around key chapters focusing on her performances (1974-2017), the Madame and It series (1982-1995), and her ongoing archival projects.

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The volume also features significant essays by renowned critics and scholars: Jean Fisher’s posthumous Ria Pacquée: Don’t Look Now examines her 'street rambles,' while anthropologist Michael Taussig’s In the Desert with Ria Pacquée reflects on her Color Walks. Art historian Antony Hudek contributes Ria Pacquée – Almost There, an introductory text tracing the early roots of her career in Antwerp during the 1970s.

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The book culminates with a candid dialogue between Pacquée and fellow artist Michael Curran, To be a Pilgrim on the Road, in which they discuss her video work, offering a rare and intimate glimpse into her creative process and artistic philosophy.