« It is the fire of a volcano that absolutely must come to light, because it is an absolute necessity in its organisation to shine, to illuminate, to astonish the world »
Théodore Géricault
The painted bodies of Dalila Dalléas Bouzar are bearers of memory. The unbleached canvas is a first skin that allows us to reach other memorial dimensions. The exhibition presented at Galerie Cécile Fakhoury unfolds a compilation of memories drawn from far away and mixed where flesh predominates. Here, solitary portraits, there, imposing frescos. In each image, a sacred fire crackles. Clouds of colour or chromatic prisms crystallise the strange: a symbolic language appears. What reflections emanate from the crystal? What buried sounds resonate in this pigmented shell? What do these painted faces mean, crossed out by the bright colours?
The artist operates a mise en abyme: as in her performances where she wears a combative position, the paint becomes a second skin and catalyses the struggle. The drapes and tentacles surround majestic bodies. They radiate a powerful energy, as in the embroideries of the Coeur pur series, where the golden thread embraces a black velvet that hosts victorious beings, supernatural forces riding a unicorn surrounded by rainbows. The paintings reveal a common gesture; in turn, their characters challenge us, stare at us or stare intently at us. In front of a hilly landscape, a little masked girl advances towards us, her fingers clutching a sword. The bodies are erect, physical. In the background, the painter's movement takes over the canvas.
Elise Girardot
Full texte in "Press release"
