Presentation

ILLUSIONARY BALANCES


Françoise Utrel uses the mineral as a metaphor for our humanity. Mineral matter seems immutable, but it is the result of violent geological upheavals and long periods of erosion. Its apparent solidity does not protect it from imbalance. In her paintings, Françoise Utrel stacks masses in an uncertain manner, suspends them by a thin wire stretched to the extreme on the edge of rupture, or balances them on a simple illusion or even in a state of impossible levitation. Only the immobility of his images on the canvas or the power of the imagination allow us to believe that the next moment will not be an inevitable fall and that there remains possible to resist. These are poetic states of suspensions or levitations made possible by the strength of links and the support of light.



IMPERMANENCES


At the same time, Françoise Utrel continues to explore this notion of fragility, but according to a very different process. She chooses famous portraits from art history. She begins by copying them, then alters their perception by superimposing layers of material. Made like palimpsests, these “Impermanences" bring us face to face with the image of these women and men who lived centuries ago, but who continue to look at us through the thickness of time. This in no way altered the strength of their presence nor the intensity of their gaze. The centuries have passed, but they are still there, silent, both near and far, present and gone. Thus a whole series of views are superimposed, amalgamated and questioned: theirs, that of the painter of these portraits, that of Françoise Utrel and finally that of today's viewer. They confront us with the fragility of all life.


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All artworks of Françoise Utrel
Painting, Équilibre illusoire 65, Françoise Utrel

Équilibre illusoire 65

Françoise Utrel

Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 1 inch

$2,710

Painting, Impermanence 09-2022, Françoise Utrel

Impermanence 09-2022

Françoise Utrel

Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$2,259

Painting, Équilibre illusoire 59-2020, Françoise Utrel

Équilibre illusoire 59-2020

Françoise Utrel

Painting - 47.2 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

$3,388

Painting, Équilibre illusoire 61-2020, Françoise Utrel

Équilibre illusoire 61-2020

Françoise Utrel

Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 1 inch

$2,710

Painting, Empilement 02-2016, Françoise Utrel

Empilement 02-2016

Françoise Utrel

Painting - 45.7 x 35 x 1 inch

$3,388

Painting, Équilibre illusoire 06-2018, Françoise Utrel

Équilibre illusoire 06-2018

Françoise Utrel

Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$2,710

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ILLUSIONARY BALANCES


Françoise Utrel uses the mineral as a metaphor for our humanity. Mineral matter seems immutable, but it is the result of violent geological upheavals and long periods of erosion. Its apparent solidity does not protect it from imbalance. In her paintings, Françoise Utrel stacks masses in an uncertain manner, suspends them by a thin wire stretched to the extreme on the edge of rupture, or balances them on a simple illusion or even in a state of impossible levitation. Only the immobility of his images on the canvas or the power of the imagination allow us to believe that the next moment will not be an inevitable fall and that there remains possible to resist. These are poetic states of suspensions or levitations made possible by the strength of links and the support of light.



IMPERMANENCES


At the same time, Françoise Utrel continues to explore this notion of fragility, but according to a very different process. She chooses famous portraits from art history. She begins by copying them, then alters their perception by superimposing layers of material. Made like palimpsests, these “Impermanences" bring us face to face with the image of these women and men who lived centuries ago, but who continue to look at us through the thickness of time. This in no way altered the strength of their presence nor the intensity of their gaze. The centuries have passed, but they are still there, silent, both near and far, present and gone. Thus a whole series of views are superimposed, amalgamated and questioned: theirs, that of the painter of these portraits, that of Françoise Utrel and finally that of today's viewer. They confront us with the fragility of all life.