Reporting on Lala Drona Exhibition 2014

The exhibition “FROM THE BED TO THE LAB” covered by journalist Karim Mouici.

Trouble in Paradise

P.E.D.:  Post Exhibition Depression.  This syndrome is a consequence of the rise in cortisone levels and surge of endorphins produced in the body to deal with the stress of the pre-exhibition process.  After the exhibition, artists experience a sort of “come down” from this self-produced drug high.

Life after the exhibition From the Bed to the Lab has been far from easy.  Lala has confirmed that she is suffering from P.E.D. and plans to “relax and spend time with friends and family during this difficult period.”  However, her attempts to lay low have not been successful.

Lala with her loyal Drones.

During the exhibition take-down, a fight broke out between Lala Drona and Drone #1.  Lala was reported threatening to “feed Drone #1 to the Muses.”  The reason for the blow out is unknown, but unconfirmed sources say the Drone #1 just never felt at home in The Lala World, and “needed a break for soul searching.”  Lala has released a statement saying that her and Drone #1 would no long be working together due to artistic differences.

When asked if she would be looking for a replacement, Lala said no, and that she would be retiring the number 1.  However, she is not saving the title in hopes that Drone #1 will return.  For the most part, The Lala World has an open door policy.  Collaborators enter and leave as they please.  However, once recruited by the Army of Drones, under contract, one is required to be loyal to Lala and other Drones.  Any form of mission abandonment is a breach of contract and results in a permanent surrender of one’s Drone title.

Journalists have tried interviewing other Drones to hear their opinion on the situation, but all have managed to remain silent.  When questioned about Drone #1’s banishment from Lala World, Lala stated, “Drone #1 in not banished.  He can return, but he can never return as a Drone.”

Based on a Fact.

Kevin Thurman, Journalist for Psychology Weekly Magazine   

Notorious Art Thief Lala Drona Alleges New Works Are Hers.

Photography © 2014 Richard Beban and Paris Play

The enigmatic cult figure Lala Drona emerged from Paris Art Prison last night, head shaved and clad in a simple blue smock, blinking owlishly through round sunglasses at what may have been unaccustomed light. Whether her detention was in total darkness, or featured any other CIA-inspired activity, no one is saying. She was surrounded by black-clad, mostly male followers she calls drones, but whether for her protection, or for ours, was unclear.

According to an online fanzine, https://basedonafact.wordpress.com, which purports to tell some version of truth, Ms. Drona was sent to prison for art theft (la ladrona means “the art thief” in Spanish) because she had no original ideas, thus stole those of others.

Her performance last night (which continues through Saturday and Sunday) features new paintings that stem from her prison reeducation experience; they are, she claims, based on her own ideas, as they came to her in her bed, a large photograph of which decorated the gallery floor.

The new paintings deal with the theme of “Sex Without Sex,” a sort of artus interruptus, in which the climactic moments have been obscured, even redacted, or from which a partner has disappeared. The latter images may stem psychologically from the difficulty she claims to have with muses, which she goes through the way a sex worker goes through Kleenex. She is purportedly under investigation for Muse Abuse.

Lala Drona’s world remains visible only through Sunday, each evening at the Duo Gallerie, 24 rue du Marché Popincourt, 75011 Paris. She is recruiting more drones and muses at each performance. You have been warned.

Based on a Fact.

Text by Paris Play 

To see the Paris Play Album of Lala Drona, click here.

Below, a sneak peek of the exhibition From the Bed to the Lab.  Camera work by Drone #1.