I had read about Joëlle Kem Lika in « Arts Magazine » - a little while ago as a matter of fact. My decision had been to visit the galleries in Paris more often. I wasn’t getting very far. She intrigued me. There was an energy in her work that I hadn’t seen for a while. French and that too was a plus as I hadn’t seen too many new French artists in the galleries or museums recently. When I spoke to the vey beautiful young woman in the gallery, (her daughter) she confirmed what I know to be true, French artists only seem to get on the local map once they have had exhibitions overseas. As if we can’t be proud of our own artists. Sad isn’t it?
What I have seen of her work on internet, I prefer her abstracts to her more realistic paintings. They breathe and the colors flash outwards, nothing seems to be closed in. I like that as you know. The brush movements seem to leap across the canvass but they are strong strokes and that is where the energy comes from.
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| Vibration |
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| Sunset on lake |
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| Pulsion de Vie, 3 |
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| Pulsion de Vie, 4 |
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| Abstract work |
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| Homard volant - triptyque |
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| Pulsion de Vie, 1 |
Her background is interesting too. Here is what she has to say about herself.
At age 20 I moved to Paris and studied at Atelier Albers for two years, a school that prepares pupils who wish to join any of the major Art and Decoration schools in France. The classes were taught by two painters and an architect...
Simultaneously I discovered psychology, psychoanalysis and Sophrology in which I took a great interest. I chose this profession and was a psychotherapist in Paris for over 25 years.
I continued to draw and paint, went to fine arts school in Auxerre, Burgundy. I have a country house there. 10 years of happy exploration... and a lot of personal work.
I ended my therapist career in 2006 at age 51 to become a full time professional artist. I started a new life and concentrated on my passion for painting.
After a number of exhibits all over France since 2000, I have created my own contemporary art galleries :
There is an opening in her gallery in the 2nd arrondissement, in November. I may well go along to it. But if you would like to discover more about her work, she has her own website and her gallery is in the heart of Paris.
(As I wasn’t to take photos, these come from her website).
The color had given me a boost of energy so as it was just next door I would go over to the Daniel Templon Gallery. I had been then some weeks ago. It was supposed to be open - it was closed. This time I hoped there would not be any nasty surprises
Jitish Kallat « Th Infinite Episode ». After Joëlle Kem Lika’s work, there was a striking contrast.
Born in 1974, he is an Indian contemporary artist and currently lives and works in Mumbai, India. Kallat's work includes painting, photography, collage, sculptures, installations and multimedia works. I would see three examples of his works.
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| Wind study |
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| One colour |
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| I moved and it became this... |
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| Wind study |
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| video |
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| video up close |
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| Wind study |
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| Wind study |
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| Wind study |
The constellations, titled Wind Study (2015) (The Hour of the Day of the Month of the Season) « become a device to read the complex forces of nature that inhibit the space and time of the art work ». It’s a mixed technique with photographic work.
The description given on the handout, is once again, very philosophical. I would prefer just to look at the work and see the different vertebrae linked on to the other.
What is so surprising in this small exhibition is his work from 2009. Quite another dimension. One piece is a large sculpture called Annexation which is a large work clad in black lead and teaming with animals united in their need to survive.
But this one. Have all these animals left this earth? Are they asleep? Have they survived?
In general these are themes of time and probably preoccupation that recur across his wide-ranging work.
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| Ajouter une légende |
Both exhibitions were a pleasant change from the recent block busters. I must make the effort to go to the galleries more often.
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