L'Enfant et les Sortiléges

On view in the Milton Cades Pavilion is one of major works in the museum's collection, David Hockney's three-dimensional environment inspired by the Maurice Ravel opera, L'Enfant et les Sortiléges (The Child and the Enchantment), created in 1983. A delight for children and adults alike, it is an enchanting work of theatrical art.

David Hockney, ( b. 1937)
L’Enfant et les Sortileges, 1983 (The Bewitched Child)
Acrylic on Canvas and wood, carpeting, velour, wool, laminated foam board and colored light
132” x 288” x 432”
Collection of The Contemporary Museum, Honolulu

World-renowned artist, David Hockey created this fantastic environmental installation in 1983 for a Walker Art Center exhibition, Hockney Paints the Stage. The concept for the exhibition was to bring into a museum gallery environment Hockney’s interpretation of his opera set designs. The six operas interpreted were: The Magic Flute, 1791 by Wolgang Amadeus Mozart; Le Sacre du Printemps, 1913, by Igor Stravinsky; L’Enfant et les Sortileges, 1925, by Maurice Ravel; Les Mamelles de Tiresias, 1947, by Francis Poulenc; and The Rake’s Progress, 1951, by Igor Stravinsky.

Hockney Paints the Stage traveled internationally to museums through 1986, at which time The Contemporary Museum was able to acquire L’Enfant et les Sortileges for its permanent collection. By that time, the exhibition was not traveling with all six set pieces together--some were being exhibited alone. In fact, TCM hosted an exhibition of The Rake’s Progress in 1986 at the same time the Hawaii Opera Theatre was producing the same opera, using Hockney’s stage sets.

L’Enfant et les Sortileges is a marvelous acquisition for TCM for several reasons. It is the only fully three-dimensional work from the 1983 exhibition. Also, it is arguably the most striking of the six pieces and is Hockney’s admitted favorite. The artist’s enthusiastic response to the idea of Ravel’s Garden residing in one of Hawaii’s most beautiful garden sites, a kind of garden within a garden, is what finally led to TCM winning out over several other museums that were seeking this major work.

The installation is in a permanent pavilion especially designed for it by Hawaii’s CJS Group Architects and named in honor of Milton Cades, who provided the funds for its construction and maintenance. The interior is climate-controlled of for conservation of the artworks and is lighted according to Hockney’s design. The building also contains a stereo sound system so visitors can hear the actual Ravel opera that inspired this important contemporary work.

The Ravel opera was first performed in March 21, 1925 at the Theatre du Casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco. It was choreographed by George Balanchine. The libretto is taken from the 1916 story by the French writer Colette. It is about a mischievous boy, who while dreaming, is shown the error of his ways by the animals and objects he has mistreated. The opera’s two scenes take place in a Norman farmhouse and in a magic garden where the boy achieves enlightenment. Hockney’s work, of course, is that garden.

In 1981, the New York City Metropolitan Opera performed the opera with Manuel Rosenthal conducting. The sets and costumes were designed by David Hockney. This installation is based on the 1981 sets and has become an important part of TCM’s permanent collection.