"Feux d'astres noirs" by Jean-Paul Marcheschi at the Maison Vaincourt
From 28/11/2015 to 30/12/2015
House Vaincourt
16 rue de la Sourdière
75001 Paris
This exhibition organised by the association quatre-couleurs will bring together the works of JEAN-PAUL MARCHESCHI and the creations of the MAISON VAINCOURT.
The union of flame and leather, earth and light... It is from the depths of the universe, where fire, the natural and sacred element of life, rises to the surface. Although contemporary painters sometimes forget that they have been "Homo Pictor" for 35,000 years, Jean-Paul Marcheschi is awakening this memory, which is inscribed throughout the history of mankind. This artist takes us on a journey from the past to the present, using a special technique straight out of prehistoric caves: drawing with lampblack. Since 1984, this accomplished author, painter, sculptor and scenographer has put aside his brushes to use a torch and charcoal as creative tools.
The soot awakens the volcanic and powerful form by crunching the dark matter. The almost mystical power of this material from the land of fire amazes viewers, transporting them into a world that is at once raw, eclectic and cultured.
The soot awakens the volcanic and powerful form by crunching the dark matter. The almost mystical power of working with fire-earth marvels the viewer, transporting them into a universe that is at once raw, eclectic and cultivated. Through his use and perfect mastery of wax, ash and flame, the artist's materials have replaced the classicism of painting on canvas. Jean-Paul Marcheschi dazzles us between light and shadow, abyss and abyss. He manages to capture a fractal, to visually transpose the rhythm of the heart like a magician, to dazzle us with his bird of fire.
Like the phoenix, it rises from its ashes in the face of the passage of time, immortalising a kind of calligraphic memory between the paths of light... In the glow of its "brush of fire" it gives birth to works that are stellar and darkly luminous...
A solar tear emerges from the black, using soot, smoke or candle wax. Playing on the material, the contrasts of light, his work flies through time and space. His art is thus extracted from the elements, notably fire, mastered in prehistoric times, which is essential to life: it flows, smokes, cracks, on his paintings and engravings. Accompanied by the leather worked by Thibaut Favre de la Paillerie who shapes it in his workshop, Elisabeth Schmitt, at the bend in the rue de la Sourdière in Paris, creates an alchemy between the earthly fire of the artist Jean Paul-Marcheschi and the birth of a second life for leather goods. The artist's gesture and that of the leatherworker are extracted from the same knowledge, that of the ancestral Man. The art of painting the human body is as old as the work done by man to clothe himself.
These two craftsmen of the human gesture are both united for the occasion of a joint exhibition at the contemporary light cave that is the Vaincourt house. This house, located in the heart of the fashion capital, is a space of culture and fashion for these leather accessories that respect to the letter the heritage of the French know-how. The handbags and belts are stamped "made in France" and play on this tradition. The customer comes to this space to make an accessory according to his desires on already established bases.
This is how the work of the craftsman sublimates that of the fire artist. The Vaincourt house innovates and transmits us the passions of this painter and this craftsman who play the same artistic gesture for an exhibition. Accompanied by the know-how of the photographer and scenographer Laurent Kavir, who will create a sculpture of leather goods to decorate and sublimate the exhibition space. This snapshot taker is a genius at shaping luxury objects to bring them to life.
This dual inspiration creates an unprecedented link between art and craft. Vaincourt offers belts that can be worn like haute couture jewellery, acting in turn as a natural second skin for the wearer. This luxury player is all about comfort and discretion - it's not something you see, it's something you experience. It's an inner adventure - that's the French definition of luxury leather goods. For the pleasure of both eyes and heart, this house plays with the notions of 'desire' and 'exigence'.
The desire to work with a material, calfskin, cowhide, buffalo, crocodile, snakeskin or ostrich tanned by some of the most prestigious suppliers... The craftsman has an infinite range from which to draw, a grain inspires him, a colour makes him want to create. Desire also for the pleasure of wearing a beautiful, unique, but essential accessory that marks the sense of the sophisticated person. Demanding respect for the product and also for the traditional gesture that has been passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years. A know-how that respects the work of the leatherworker, tirelessly repeated, that is part of the history of this craft, with the aim of always doing better so that bags and belts are cut from the finest leathers.
Thibaut's needle, brush, scissors, compass, thread-cutter, iron and blade compete with Jean-Paul Marcheschi's flame, soot and wax. They both work with a raw material to sublimate it. The union of flame and leather, earth and light, magnifies the house of Vaincourt to our great delight. Jean-Paul Marcheschi's next exhibition will be at the Musée Rodin in 2016.
