Arches, 2023

Clotaire Lehoux  

My painting is at the heart of a search for materiality and expressiveness.
The legacy of painters like Eugène Leroy and Bram van Velde affirms my attachment to the sole means of painting as a mode of expression.
From 2016 to 2021, plants were at the heart of my main themes, unfolding in large compositions. This world allowed me to fully express the idea of a sovereign and whimsical nature.
The color and light seem to burn in real time, giving the painted subject a powerful radiance and immediate appeal.
The evolving nature of my approach, driven by the constant search for new forms, is currently leading me towards more structured universes inspired by architectural forms.
Artistic movements such as Art Nouveau and Art Deco both influence my work.
I have developed my technique by not exclusively using oil paint, to also work with acrylic, oil and dry pastels, giving free rein to other forms of expression.
Today, the theme of arches and columns has become almost obsessive, referencing immutable forms. This has allowed me to compose my paintings differently, emphasizing lines and the layering of motifs. Reconstruction/deconstruction has become a driving force in my creative process, revisiting old paintings to give birth to new ones, this practice fueling a symbolism of rebirth inherent to the artist's condition.