Composition C, 2021

by Virginie Benzaquen

Painting : acrylic, tar, mixed media 195 x 390 x 3 cm 76.8 x 153.5 x 1.2 inch

$20,534
LOADING NOT DISPLAYED BLUR TEXT
Second NOT DISPLAYED BLUR TEXT
Have a question? Ask a specialist

Free returns within 14 days

Authenticity guaranteed

Learn more
Paypal American Express Visa Mastercard

Verified Reviews

9.6/10

About the artwork

Type

Unique work

Signature

Hand-signed by artist

Authenticity

Sold with certificate of Authenticity from the gallery

Invoice from the gallery


Medium

Painting: acrylic, tar, mixed media

Dimensions cm inch

195 x 390 x 3 cm 76.8 x 153.5 x 1.2 inch Height x Width x Depth

Framing

Not framed


Artwork sold in perfect condition

Artwork location: France

Triptych - 3 canvas - 51.18 x 76.77 inch x 3
Read more

About the seller

ART TRAFFIK • France

Artsper seller since 2014

Vetted Seller


Collector’s Guide

Virginie Benzaquen

Virginie Benzaquen

France  • 1972

If you are accustomed to our selection of artists and our approach in regards to them, you'll know that one of our criteria, and surely the most important, is their sincerity, in the sense that they don't merely create artworks just to create them and sell them, but rather because it's their vital means of expression, entwined with their personality, their Being, their Life. The work is not an end in itself, but a means, their medium. Hence, it isn't surprising that our artists always begin their recollection with the words "it goes back to my childhood".
Virginie Benzaquen is one of those artists, more so than most actually. For Virginie, painting is an integral part (in every sense of the word) of her creative process. You'll shortly understand what I mean....
"It goes back to Casablanca, my place of birth and where I grew up as a child, then into a lonely adolescence. I began drawing very early on. Different ambiances, living rooms, with often those old blue doors which characterize Morocco so well, which fascinated me...  
When I arrived in France at the age of 17, I discovered abstraction that characterizes my work today. But drawing has always been present, for as long as I can remember. Like a dear friend, a confidant, present especially at night, so are my canvases because I tell them everything. And, thourghout the years, they have been, til this present day, my secret garden, my diary."
Virginie Benzaquen's diary, as she explains it to me, is both literal and figurative, for before she begins to paint on a canvas, Virginie Benzaquen first covers it with words... which she'll then obscure completely with paint... "Even as a child, before painting, I'd write a scenario that the drawing or painting would then set into scene... And even then, my rule was to make the text disappear, throwing away the draft. This became and has remained my ritual... I now write directly on the canvas with a felt-tip pen, until there's no more room".What does she write? Only she knows, because it's intimate…Her encounters, her emotions, her life, her "bullshit" as she calls it, her prayers, her anger, her insults. She tells her story, opens up, bares her soul and her personality. "It takes me hours, with music and a glass of wine. My secrets cover my canvases."
Then comes the painting phase... Virginie first covers everything, then creates what will be the end result, an echoing to the sentiments she wishes to hide, of which only Virginie knows and to which she has the "codes".  What the onlooker will see is abstract art, but for Virginie Benzaquen, it's the figuration of what her texts are about, colors and lines that are guided by her emotions.
Another peculiarity is no paintbrushes are used... Everything is done by hand, with a few exceptions such as strips of scotch tape for lines she wants straight, or newspaper she crumples and rubs to spread and manipulate the thickness and colors of the paint; or skewer sticks, which she also uses to make scratches in the paint or to rewrite words in the text - words that are important to her, even if she makes them disappear again, words only she knows are there. "I hate brushes, the idea of brushes, because they separate me from the canvas. I want proximity, to feel the contact.... I only paint with my hands... I love it", she confides.
As for her color palette, black is predominant... Working with black is an extreme pleasure, which also stems from her childhood, when she used to isolate herself in the house cellar in order to explore its many possibilities in her sketch book. Today, it is rather for the sake of texture and material that Virginie Benzaquen explores black. It's hardly surprising that Virginie is an unconditional fan of Soulages... But with all the humility that characterizes her: "I'm rather shy with black. If I wasn't as respectful as I am humbled by Soulages' work, I'd use black more, or sometimes even only black... it's joyful, luminous, emotionally intense. Looking at a Soulages painting moves me enormously, but it also triggers a feeling of familiarity, as I see my gestures in his, as I imagine him in his studio. I was very lucky to have met him... It was moment of pure magic". It's not surprising either that her other artistic reference is Hartung, whose work I urge you to discover if you're not already familiar with it. Then, you'll understand Virginie's pronounced taste for curves, straight lines, those geometric elements, as well as her choice of blue, red, yellow... "When I began painting, I was untainted by the work of Soulages or Hartung, whose works I discovered much later and to which I totally relate to."
Her career? As with her artworks : covertness. For a very long time, Virginie Benzaquen's artworks were kept secret, except for those closest to her. It wasn't until the age of 30 that she befriended a gallery owner, Pierre Georgio Corchia, to whom she finally revealed that she painted herself, and to whom she opened the doors of her studio. Fascinated by the artist and her work, he concluded an exclusive agreement with her. Exhibitions soon followed, in France and Italy, which all met great success... Just as quickly she caught the eyes of discerning collectors, including one who would leave a lasting impression on Virginie: Dominique Imbert, founder of FOCUS fireplaces. Up until his death, he kept a fervent passion for Virginie's work. "I think he wrote one of the most beautiful texts regarding my work - (see below) - I often think of him, and often the words that I write on my canvases are letters that I write to him, and I confide in him". But when Pierre Georgio Corchia died, the collaboration came to a halt and Virginie was approached by other galleries. And, more and more collectors began encouraging her. "One of them even made a movie about my work that was shown at the Gaumont Multiplexe Theater in Montpellier, and it was a real success". But she's not looking for notoriety nor to spread herself too thin... and even less to paint for "too many" galleries... Like her works, which she imbues with emotions and intimate secrets, Virginie's status as a confidential artist suits her just fine.
Apart from her talent, it's also one of the reasons why we're so proud and happy to present her to you and to represent her, to have gained her trust. Her paintings pull us in, they inspire and penetrate us... But I'll let you discover and appreciate her artworks yourselves.
Below, are Dominique Imbert's words about Virginie Benzaquen's artworks and what they sparked in him. 

Read more
Need help?

How does Artsper protect you?

Protect your purchase

We’re here to help you collect art securely. When you browse and buy on Artsper, you benefit from our guaranteed protections.

Buy works from the best galleries

We partner with the best art galleries. All sellers on Artsper have been carefully reviewed and approved by our team. All of our partner galleries respect our code of ethics.

Know what you’re getting

Each work on Artsper is studied and validated by our team before appearing online. Get personalized support Contemporary art specialists are available by phone and email to answer all of your questions about our works of art. Get personalized advice and curated suggestions for your collection.

Resell your artworks

As a private individual, you have the possibility to resell on Artsper your works acquired on Artsper. For more information click here.

 

Make an offer with Artsper

Negotiate prices

Price negotiation is possible. Like in a gallery, this allows you to open a discussion and purchase your works at your preferred price.

Get our help negotiating

Let our team handle the negotiations and get back to you once the best deal is made.

 

Order safely

Artsper’s satisfaction guarantee

With Artsper, you have the opportunity to return a work free of charge within 14 days of receipt if it does not suit you, for whatever reason. You will then receive a full refund for your order.

Protect your purchase with Artsper’s payment partners

All credit card payments are processed by Paybox, the trusted leader in payment processing for international businesses. Paybox ensures the highest level of security.

Get specialized support from Artsper in the event of a problem

On the rare occasion that a work of art arrives in a different condition than described, we will work to administer a return, refund, restoration or exchange for you. Our team will always keep you informed on the progress of your request and will go above and beyond to offer you personalized solutions.

To benefit from Artsper’s protections you must:

  • Place your order using one of Artsper's payment methods.

  • Report any issues to Artsper within one week of receiving your work.

  • Provide all requested photographic evidence of the problem (including the original artwork and packaging).

Artsper’s guarantee covers the following problems:

  • You receive a work that’s missing a described characteristic (such as a signature or a frame)

  • You receive a work with different characteristics than those described at the time of purchase

  • You receive a damaged piece of work

  • Your purchase is declared lost or damaged during transit

  • You receive a work that is a different in color than what you ordered

  • Your purchase is delayed

Why buy on Artsper?

Artsper gives you access to the largest catalog of contemporary artworks, from the best galleries (200,000 works, 25,000 artists, 2,000 partner galleries).

We select the galleries with which we collaborate. This demanding selection, operated by our team of experts, offers you several guarantees:

  • Double expertise regarding the quality and originality of the works. On the one hand by professional galleries that select their artists and works. On the other hand by Artsper which selects its partner galleries according to the quality of their catalog and their reputation.
  • Access to the entire catalog of works from our partner galleries, sold at the same price as in the gallery.
  • The possibility of returning purchased works (within 14 days) if they do not suit you, wherever you are in the world. Which is not the case outside Artsper.
  • The possibility of easily reselling the work you purchased on Artsper.

We also facilitate the search for works according to your preferences thanks to our intelligent features such as:

Or simply thanks to our filters on the catalog allowing you to refine your searches.

Our customer service is also at your service and responds within the shortest time!

Can I negotiate the price of an artwork?

For some artworks, you can negotiate the price. If the price of the work is negotiable, you have a “Make an offer” button under the “Buy this work” one.

To submit your offer, you must make a payment of the desired amount. Your offer will then be forwarded to the gallery, which reserves the right to accept or reject it. If your offer is accepted, it means that your order is confirmed by the gallery and they will prepare the artwork for shipment. If your offer is rejected, you will be refunded the total amount paid automatically. The gallery can also propose a counter-offer for the acquisition of the artwork.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us: [email protected].

Where can I have my order delivered?

Artsper delivers worldwide!

However, please note that once your order reaches its destination, it may be subject to VAT or other customs fees. These charges are beyond our control and you will be responsible for paying them (this is indicated at the ‘checkout’ first step).

Select the delivery address of your choice. Please make sure that someone is present to receive your order.

If your billing address is different to your delivery address you can specify this at the checkout.

 

Why do I have to pay customs fees?

Return and cancellation

You can return the artwork without needing to provide a reason or pay a penalty fee up to 14 days after receiving your order.

In the case that the right of withdrawal is exercised in the aforementioned time frame, the price of the artwork(s) purchased and the shipping costs will be reimbursed by us as soon as the gallery has received the artwork and notified us.

Artsper will manage the return of the work and will bear the cost of returns (which will either be paid by you and refunded by Artsper or directly paid by Artsper).

The artwork must be returned in perfect condition and in its original packaging (or equivalent).

The buyer exercises his right of withdrawal directly from MUMART, by sending an email to the address: [email protected].

How can I best showcase my work?

If you have bought a painting, a sculpture or a work on paper, find expert advice on its conservation and how to best enhace it:

Go to the orders tab in my purchases to benefit from the exceptional discounts negotiated for you with our framing, pedestal and lighting partners...