GALLERIES FULL OF DISCOVERIES
During the summer months (if you could call the weather summer), there is a lot going on in Europe. Now that exhibitions travel, what is point in jumping onto a plane or train to see what might be seen in Paris six months later? This is not the case with the galleries and as is often the case, the galleries, when I go to them, are usually empty. There were two artists that I wanted to know more about. Xu Zhen, Chinese, living and working in Shanghai is just 40. His exhibition was at the Perrotin gallery and is called « Civilization Iteration ». I had seen his work when in Shanghai. The other artist is Robert Arnoux whose work I had noticed in my Beaux Arts magazine. « Sculptures en Paysage » (« Landscape Sculptures »). I was also to discover alongside Xu Zen, a new artist for me, Zach Harris. His work is amazing.
Back to Xu Zhen. The word Iteration related to a work of art. He launched a brand in his own name in 2013.
What we see is how an artist amidst increasing globalisation and networking of art, can approach the future of art with his own formula. I would think that every artist today inspires to this. If he or she is not unique then all we can say is that « I’ve seen this before ». This I had not seen before.
What is so strange about his work, are the mirrors and what was written on them. As the writing fills every inch of the mirror, even when I took photographs, I seemed to disappear into the words.
Now I would wander over to the « Jardins en Art ». We have been there before too…It’s a lovely place combining a library, upstairs and downstair galleries and an inner garden where works are shown in their correct settings. Strolling along, the hundreds of images I had just scene in Zach Harris’s work kept turning around in my head. I hoped that I would not be disappointed by what I was going to see.
Robert Arnoux turned out to be another new artist. Although I had not read the whole Article in Arts Magazine, it was this photo veiled by branches and leaves which intrigued me.
The young woman who was playing with her smart ‘phone at the reception desk didn’t notice that I was standing in front of her - and waiting.
Her reply came very fast.
Then she looked up at me daring to put down her smart phone for a single moment - and blushed.
I couldn’t find out how old he was on Internet either although I did find that she same name belongs to an actor and wine estate as well...Age perhaps does not matter.
Arnoux became an artist working in the Pierre Soulages atelier in Charenton. He has two careers working as a sculptor and also in his own book shop. Atypical! Often compared to other great sculptors of his generation (?), Brancussi, Moore…his are mysterious silhouettes, primitives in design, contemporary and waiting..
Sculpted out of one block, they seem to be still but also very much alive.There is a modesty about his work and yet very sensual and from twhat I saw in the garden a strong relationship exists between nature and the silhouette…so peaceful and how much I wanted to strong one, caress what seemed to be a smooth and beckoning surface.- the young lady was now glaring at me and watching to see if I would make that forbidden gesture..I didn’t!
There were no dates and I didn't always find the name of the sculpture or painting.
Back to Xu Zhen. The word Iteration related to a work of art. He launched a brand in his own name in 2013.
Itineration which refers to the way of achieving a desired result through repeated feed back.
What we see is how an artist amidst increasing globalisation and networking of art, can approach the future of art with his own formula. I would think that every artist today inspires to this. If he or she is not unique then all we can say is that « I’ve seen this before ». This I had not seen before.
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| Earthenware Dragon Sleeping Muse - 2016 |
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| Evolution Stature - 2016 |
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| Eternity-Tang Dynasty...2016 |
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| Evolution Stature - 2016 |
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| In the garden |
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| Evolution Stature - 2016 |
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| Eternity Tang Dynasty Bodhisattva |
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| of the Herbel Province Museum.... |
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| I think you have to reconsider your effectivent and efficiency (?) |
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| I have nearly disappeared... |
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| And for those who know me - look closely...
Zach Harris (41) is a wonderful discovery. An American and this was his first major exhibition outside the U.S.A.
His work must be studied not looked at without looking for the details. There you find a myriad of detailed sketches scrupulously drawn with a pencil or a micron pen. There are erotic scenes…and there seems to be a kind of a tension between the macro and the micro or if you prefer, between the large picture and the small details. In the gallery, I came back to a picture more than once. Other elements jumped out as if calling to me « do you see? I’m here… »
By the way, I let the computer do the order for inserting the pictures. It certainly not the way they are on my Iphone. Practically as if the computer was asking me "where does this -part of- come from?"....
"N" "O" "8" - 2013-17
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| Part of "Cloudy Kitty Arrival 2016-17 |
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| Part of Philospher Stone (in 2020) 2016-17 |
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| Part of Pentagon Sky 201617 |
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| Part of Pentagon Sky - 2016-17 |
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| Study for 20/20 - 2016-17 |
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| Silver Sky - 2014-17 |
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| Part of Double Helix (in 2020) |
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| Part of "N" "O" "8" - 2013-17 |
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| Part of Sky Writing wall - 2016-17 |
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| Calendar Cloud (in 2020) - 2016-17 |
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| Pentagon Sky - 2016-17 |
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| Sky writing wall -2016-17 |
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| Red Shroud - 206-17 |
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| Water on Firebird - 2015-17 |
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| Twelve Month (for 2020) 2016-17 |
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| Small Succulent - 2013-17 |
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| Cloudy Kitty Arrival - 2016-17 |
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| Part of "N" "O" "8" - 2013-17 |
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| Linen Last Judgement (Yellow Prism) 2016-17 |
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| Glass Guillotine - 2016-17 |
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| Philosopher Stone (in 2020) 2016-17 |
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| Double Helix (in 2020) 2015-17 |
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| Sunrise Sunset (in 2020) - 2016-17 |
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| Part of Sunrise Sunset |
Robert Arnoux turned out to be another new artist. Although I had not read the whole Article in Arts Magazine, it was this photo veiled by branches and leaves which intrigued me.
The young woman who was playing with her smart ‘phone at the reception desk didn’t notice that I was standing in front of her - and waiting.
"Out of interest how old is the artist. In this photo he could be old or he could be young… »
Her reply came very fast.
« He’s very old, he must be over 50 »
Then she looked up at me daring to put down her smart phone for a single moment - and blushed.
I couldn’t find out how old he was on Internet either although I did find that she same name belongs to an actor and wine estate as well...Age perhaps does not matter.
Arnoux became an artist working in the Pierre Soulages atelier in Charenton. He has two careers working as a sculptor and also in his own book shop. Atypical! Often compared to other great sculptors of his generation (?), Brancussi, Moore…his are mysterious silhouettes, primitives in design, contemporary and waiting..
« They tell their own stories, ours, those of life. From birth to death there are natural images which we all know »…so he says
Sculpted out of one block, they seem to be still but also very much alive.There is a modesty about his work and yet very sensual and from twhat I saw in the garden a strong relationship exists between nature and the silhouette…so peaceful and how much I wanted to strong one, caress what seemed to be a smooth and beckoning surface.- the young lady was now glaring at me and watching to see if I would make that forbidden gesture..I didn’t!
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| Man of the Forest - |
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| Ondine in the forest |
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| Mother to be - |
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| Realsation |
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| The Kiss |
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| Garden Scene |
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