THE DIVINE COMEDY

Paintings and drawings by Béatrice Pontacq – Sculptures by Gibus

Until February 15, 2025

“I walk without anything on me that does not shine, stuffed with independence and frankness.” E.Rostand – Cyrano de Bergerac

An initiatory journey and an ode to metamorphosis… When the sky and the sea merge, the clouds fade and change into rocks, islands or mountains floating between dream and reality. In the philosopher’s hands, the raw material comes to life to take on the features of curious and faceless beings, presented in postures where poetry mixes with the absurd.

Thus, as soon as the exhibition enters, Béatrice Pontacq’s misty and celestial works plunge the viewer into the heart of a dizzying experience of matter and light, which by the mise en abyme of the layers of paint, charcoal and clay takes us out of time and space.

Guided by Guy Bareff’s lighting, and evolving in the gallery space, the viewer is simultaneously caught up in the implacable presence of Gibus ‘ “xylo-sophic” sculptures whose point of view can be mawkish, poetic, funny, uncomfortable, harsh or revolting. In the distance, we can make out Yves Pagart’s disturbing Cerberus…

In the second bedroom, the eye is drawn to the Nazar carpet by Atelier Février, one of the very first carpets made after the drawings of Florian Pretet in the shape of an oriental talisman.

Here, the abstract volutes of Béatrice Pontacq change their movement to reveal islands and mountains while the dramatic bronze guardians of Gibus appear.

Finally, the third and last room gives a glimpse of the divine symbolized by the fascinating Rising Storm mirror by Christophe Gaignon.

Here, a series of 8 photographic prints made by Béatrice Pontacq sounds like a daily attempt by the artist to capture her emotional state, through very personal photographs of the sky through her bedroom window.

Opposite, a pair of bronze sconces by William Guillon attempts to fix a rare coloured luminous phenomenon, rarer than the Northern Lights, above a sprawling console by Benjamin Pagart.

At the end of this journey, which could be infinite, the viewer will be able to sketch a definition of the sacred as well as a definition of art: both exist only as long as they are looked at.

An exhibition proposed by Antoine Vignault among an exclusive selection of furniture by contemporary artists and pieces of design from the twentieth century selected by Emmanuelle Vidal.

This exhibition also allows you to see the furniture of Nicolas Aubagnac, Hoon Moreau and Yves & Benjamin Pagart, the ceramics of Catherine Blanc, or the lighting of Guy Bareff and William Guillon or Gabriela Sismann’s signature jewels.

A décor enriched with seats, coffee tables and collectible lighting from the 70s by Emmanuelle Vidal, an antique dealer specialising in modern design.

From September 19 to October 26, 2024, 2 PLACE MONTOULIEU, TOULOUSE – FRANCE
Wednesday to Saturday from 14.00 to 19.00 h or by appointment