The Tie

Conceptual artist Sophie Calle created this tie as a multiple for Parkett, an art publishing company and magazine. Many of Calle’s works address surveillance and strangers—two themes echoed in The Tie, which is printed with an account of Calle’s interactions with a man she once saw give a lecture. Because the speaker was attractive but poorly dressed, Calle began to anonymously send him clothes in 1985. The artist first gave the man a skinny brown tie, represented by the one seen here. For a number of years thereafter, Calle sent the man an article of clothing each Christmas as part of a project titled La Garde-robe (The Wardrobe). Calle concludes her story by saying that she would like to meet the man one day, but only once he is exclusively wearing the clothes she has given him. This fabled meeting ultimately did not occur, and the outfit, lacking both shoes and a coat, was never completed.