Farida le Suavé

A small drawing by Shoi titled Spring 2020 served as a catalyst for this exhibition. It shows a building in front of a sunset. Out of the windows, human silhouettes can be seen, whereas in the street, void from any human presence, an elephant and two cats are strolling and being carefully observed by a bat hanging from a tree… Naive, rich, amusing, spontaneous and precise; this was confinement. Adding to the tragedy of Coronavirus, which plunged the entire humanity into profound questioning, the heightened visibility of the increasing material distress, systemic racism and the suppression of human rights such as freedom of speech appeared. As if a giant looking glass was being hung above our old planet to show us the pain, questioning and difficulties we each have to face.

In this context, artists are both participants and observers who absorb, filter and transform life experience and the state of things. Some express it through their work; others keep it at a distance, by offering an elsewhere, an escape.