STREET MYTHOLOGY EXHIBITION WITH INSANE 51, PICHIAVO, PIET RODRIGUEZ, SHEPARD FAIREY, MAXIME DAVOUST, TONY TICHENÉ.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT :

Since the Italian Renaissance, stories as well as figures from Greek and Roman mythology have greatly influenced art history. Mythological icons were widely distributed during this period, particularly in artists' workshops through the technique of engraving. Over the centuries, mythology will become an almost inexhaustible source of inspiration and will serve as a reference for the representation of the body in an idealized way.

EXHIBITION CONTEXT :

Today this influence continues and is mingled with new artistic movements, notably that of STREET ART, associating two distinct cultures which, until then, were opposed on all points: urban art and classical art.
STREET ART has already made its place in our cities, but also more and more in our galleries for several decades now. Long-time repressed by artistic and governmental institutions, this current initially perceived as a counter-culture, if not an offense, is now tending to legitimize itself in the contemporary artistic landscape.

Through the STREET MYTHOLOGY exhibition, the contemporary art gallery CORPS ET AME GALLERY tends to create a symbiosis between these two worlds, thus breaking down the boundaries between Classical Art and STREET ART. The aim is to make ancient Greek’s culture more accessible by disseminating its figures to the public while infusing its codes with a touch of modernity thanks to the technics and colors of Urban Art but also to give STREET ART recognition by confronting the most beautiful representations inspired by antiquity. This is the path chosen by the seven artists selected for this exhibition, INSANE 51, PICHI & AVO, PIET RODRIGUEZ, SHEPARD FAIREY, MAXIME DAVOUST and TONY TICHENÉ. By appropriating classic iconography, they will create a true fusion between two aesthetics, two eras, 2000 years of Art History.

THE ARTISTS :

- INSANE 51 is considered a pioneer of 3D art. A young artist, 27, he has mastered techniques diverted from stereoscopy named "Double Exposure 3D". This process allows him to render different visuals on the same work thanks to the superposition of two colors: red and cyan blue. Insane 51 has taken part in numerous festivals and his work can now be seen on the walls of several major cities such as Montreal, Berlin or Athens.
The figures of Eros and Psyche are brought together again, this time not because of their love but thanks to the graffiti of Insane 51. These two works will face each other during the exhibition, will they succeed in making you fall under their spell? ?

- PICHI & AVO are both from Valencia in Spain, this group of artists formed in 2007 have made the fusion of Antiquity and STREET ART their trademark. Indeed the duo are distinguished by their style confronting the hyperrealism of the classic representation of figures of antiquity with the HIP-HOP graffiti typical of the "Old-School" period of Urban Art. The result is a wonderful mix of historical, mythological and popular references.

- PIET RODRIGUEZ is an self-taught artist from Brussels beginning his artistic career in 2012. His works are marked by several influences, both by the great masters of the history of painting but also by the remains of the Greco-Roman periods. Mythology then takes an important place in its production. Piet Rodriguez will draw on the different pantheons by mixing hyperrealistic forms with contemporary forms from abstract art and urban art. Transmission also takes an important place for the artist: "Returning these works to the urban world for everyone to see seemed like a fair return because most of these works are either locked up in museums or reserved for the elite."

- SHEPARD FAIREY (OBEY) is an internationally recognized American artist. Screen designer, muralist and illustrator, his productions found real success in 2008 when he designed "YES WE CAN" and "HOPE" posters for Barack Obama's presidential campaign. The artist had already stood out before during his campaign to distribute "Obey Giant" stickers in American cities, featuring French wrestler André Roussimoff also known as "André the Giant". This figure ends up being so essential in his work it became his signature. Heavily influenced by a style reminiscent of ancient propaganda posters, Obey also found inspiration in ancient statuary. He will associate these two genres and will make particular reference to the “Discobolus” or to the caryatids which decorated ancient temples.

- MAXIME DAVOUST is a French sculptor working near Lyon. His work focuses on the repurpose of classical figures of antiquity such as the famous "Victory of Samothrace" or the "Venus de Milo". Maxime Davoust infuses his models with a new aesthetic that is both modern and futuristic by using monochrome color but also by simplifying their shapes by making use of geometry.

NEWS :

Recently the PICHIAVO duo intervened in the Latin Quarter of Paris Boulevard Saint Michel to create a fresco of monumental dimension representing the God Poseidon accompanied by a Nereid and Nike the goddess of victory. Carried out from March 9 to 20, 2021, the development of this fresco took the form of a performance unfolding successively over the days, a way for the artist duo to let the viewer discover the progress of the work step by step.

According to PICHI & AVO: “It's more interesting to create this way. We connect more to spectators. They are challenged by what is happening and do not yet understand what is happening. They see all the graffiti, start to panic and we reassure them by adding more classic elements ”.

Despite the difficult context for art today, culture must be present more than ever. According to Hugo Benkara, co-founder of Quai 36, associated with PICHI & AVO for the creation of this event: "Culture survives and triumphs by dressing the walls of cities and by embellishing our daily lives in this difficult period".
What could be better than a 180 m² fresco in the heart of Paris and visible to all to continue to bring Art to life during a pandemic period ?