In 2013, we presented Jeanne Mordoj’s solo show La Poème at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival; a joyously strange and personal play celebrating the feminine. In every performance she sacrificed 40 eggs, 760 in total during the run.

In 2014, we invited her to London to immerse herself in all things zygote, researching the third instalment of La Poème which premiered in 2016.  Her varied week included PhD student Tom Gould of Kings College London meditating on being encased in an eggshell, Richard Haughton discussing his work photographing eggs for world class chefs, nutritionist Sue Reeves answering questions about the best way to cook eggs to retain their nutrients and Josh Abrams, University of Roehampton, talking about the kitchen as a place of performance. 

The week was rounded off by a visit to the charming Hackney City Farm where Charlotte, the farmer, related some engaging stories about the behaviour of their chickens. 

In 2015, she returned to spend ten days at Hackney City Farm – the first time they had hosted a resident artist. And she also spent four days at Southbank’s Purcell Rooms developing huge drawings  that feature in the second version of La Poème, Grand Format.

Many thanks to Hackney City Farm and the Southbank for use of their spaces, to Ben Steele for his photography and film, and to Kings College Institute and the Institut français for their financial support.