CHANEL Connects: Episode Summary – "New Romantics: Lauren Collins and Gerard & Kelly"

Release Date: July 29, 2025

Season 5 of CHANEL Connects, presented by Yana Peel, transports listeners to La Pausa, Gabrielle Chanel’s meticulously designed Mediterranean villa on the French Riviera. This season emphasizes the home as a creative nexus, welcoming influential guests from various artistic disciplines. In the episode titled "New Romantics: Lauren Collins and Gerard & Kelly", aired on July 29, 2025, host Jana Peel engages in a profound dialogue with writer Lauren Collins and the dynamic artist duo, Brennan Gerard and Ryan Kelly. This conversation delves deep into themes of artistic inspiration, intimacy, identity, and the intersection of personal history with creative expression.

Introduction to Guests and Creative Journeys

The episode opens with warm greetings as Lauren Collins joins Brennan Gerard and Ryan Kelly, establishing the foundation for a collaborative and insightful discussion.

Lauren Collins (00:00): "I feel like there are so many points in common, but so many not in common also that are going to be fun to discuss."

Brennan Gerard (00:45): "We are Gerard and Kelly, and we are artists who are also from America, but now based in Paris."
Ryan Kelly (00:55): "And I'm Ryan Kelly."

Their introduction sets the stage for an exploration of their artistic endeavors and personal narratives.

Reinterpreting Tino Sehgal’s "The Kiss"

A significant portion of the conversation centers around Gerard & Kelly’s reinterpretation of Tino Sehgal’s renowned piece "The Kiss." This segment highlights their approach to challenging and expanding upon existing artistic frameworks.

Lauren Collins (01:41): "We've got to talk about the Kiss Solo. Your kind of reinterpretation, perhaps rebuttal of Tino Sehgal's work."
Ryan Kelly (02:13): "Kiss is a good place to start because I think one of the correspondences in our work is relationships and intimacy."

Gerard & Kelly explain their creation of "Kiss Solo," a multi-channel video installation that responds to Sehgal’s original performance. They emphasize their desire to explore relationships from a personal and introspective perspective.

Brennan Gerard (04:21): "We deciphered through that process that it was a 12 minute choreography repeated on a loop."
Ryan Kelly (05:06): "Maybe that's always how art moves forward, is in the blind spots."

Their work seeks to address challenges in representation, particularly the persistent male-female dynamics, by presenting a solo performance that delves into self-intimacy and the broader constructs of romance.

Exploring Language, Identity, and Expat Life

The discussion transitions into the complexities of living as American expats in France, focusing on language acquisition and identity transformation.

Lauren Collins (06:00): "I had this real hang up about the physical aspects of speaking French. Like molding my lips."
Brennan Gerard (06:49): "For me, there was a lot of freedom in that. And I think it's also that freedom of almost escaping your origins."

Gerard & Kelly reflect on the liberating aspects of adopting a new language and culture, drawing parallels to their artistic exploration of self and space. They reference Eileen Gray, an influential Irish architect in France, highlighting themes of migration and reinvention.

Ryan Kelly (09:02): "It was a very clear decision to get out and reinvent myself."

This segment underscores the interplay between language, personal freedom, and creative expression, illustrating how expatriation can be a catalyst for artistic evolution.

Historical Narratives and Personal Projects

Lauren Collins shares her ambitious project—a book expanding the timeline of the Wilmington massacre of 1898, emphasizing the importance of reinterpreting and expanding historical narratives.

Lauren Collins (26:21): "The project of the book is to expand and blow out the timeline of that story and look at the long term consequences into the present moment."

Gerard & Kelly draw parallels to their own work on Eileen Gray, discussing how misunderstood or hidden histories inspire their artistic projects.

Brennan Gerard (28:47): "We were told a story that we knew was not historically correct."

This exchange highlights the responsibility of artists and writers to delve into obscured histories, using fiction and art to illuminate and engage with the past in meaningful ways.

Collaboration, Intimacy, and Creative Partnership

A poignant discussion unfolds around the nature of collaboration versus romantic relationships, exploring how Gerard & Kelly navigate their long-term artistic partnership.

Ryan Kelly (24:25): "There's not... co-creation of domestic space."
Brennan Gerard (25:08): "What's the artistic versus the romantic? And I think that one of the things that happens in a romantic relationship that we've learned, too, through the work, is that you have all these codes."

They elaborate on the fluid dynamics of their partnership, emphasizing co-creation and shared passion without the confines of traditional romantic codes. This segment offers deep insights into maintaining artistic integrity and personal connection over decades.

Future Endeavors and the Role of Architecture in Storytelling

Looking ahead, Gerard & Kelly discuss their upcoming projects, including a short film set in an abandoned 80s Italian disco and the development of a long-form film. They connect their architectural interests to their storytelling methods.

Ryan Kelly (29:02): "We're working on that. And meanwhile, we're starting the very develop. Beginning development of a long form film."

Lauren Collins expresses excitement about these projects, illustrating the synergy between their creative pursuits and personal narratives.

Reflections on Home, History, and Artistic Purpose

The episode concludes with a reflective dialogue on the concept of home, the significance of history in shaping identity, and the enduring purpose of art in society.

Lauren Collins (33:21): "We have to find ways to live in it."
Brennan Gerard (33:23): "Yeah, totally."

This closing segment encapsulates the essence of the conversation: the intricate balance between honoring one's roots and forging new paths through creative expression.

Notable Quotes

• Ryan Kelly (02:13): "Kiss is a good place to start because I think one of the correspondences in our work is relationships and intimacy."
• Brennan Gerard (04:21): "We deciphered through that process that it was a 12 minute choreography repeated on a loop."
• Lauren Collins (06:00): "I had this real hang up about the physical aspects of speaking French. Like molding my lips."
• Lauren Collins (26:21): "The project of the book is to expand and blow out the timeline of that story and look at the long term consequences into the present moment."
• Ryan Kelly (29:02): "We're working on that. And meanwhile, we're starting the very develop. Beginning development of a long form film."

Conclusion

In this enriching episode of CHANEL Connects, Lauren Collins, Brennan Gerard, and Ryan Kelly navigate the intertwined realms of art, history, and personal identity. Their dialogue offers listeners a nuanced understanding of how creative endeavors can challenge societal norms, reinterpret historical narratives, and foster deep personal connections. Set against the evocative backdrop of La Pausa, the conversation underscores the transformative power of art in reshaping both personal and collective histories.

For those who missed this episode, CHANEL Connects continues to explore the vibrant intersections of arts and culture, featuring influential artists and innovators who are defining the present and envisioning the future. Stay tuned for more compelling conversations as Season 5 unfolds weekly from July 16.