Carpes Koïs, 2023

Hervé Maury  

Hervé Maury paints animals in the same way as landscapes or portraits, creating ‘living natures’ that are both funny and seductive in their apparent simplicity. Pigments and other materials mingle, movement and relief emerge, fixing a special moment on each canvas. The artist turns her enchanted bestiary into a family of everyday accomplices in search of exoticism and absolute poetry. This work of art presents a group of koi carp in earthy tones, captured in a graceful aquatic dance. The fish, drawn with energetic yet delicate black lines, appear to float freely on a textured background of whitish and ochre hues. Each fish is distinct, with warm browns and touches of orange and yellow bringing bursts of life, contrasting beautifully with the paler background. The dynamic arrangement of the fish creates a swirling movement, evoking both the serenity and energy of a school in action. The technique used, combining drawing and painting, gives a distinct tactile depth to the image, accentuating its visual charm. This composition reflects a remarkable mastery of naturalistic abstraction, offering a fascinating glimpse of underwater harmony.