LAURE MARY: SPLEEN
Dio Horia Gallery presents Laure Mary’s Spleen, the artist’s second solo exhibition with the gallery. The solo show beckons viewers to momentarily escape reality and immerse themselves in a dreamlike realm, akin to a gentle stroll through an imaginary and exquisitely intimate space.
January 20 – February 24, 2024
Laure Mary stands out as an artist with a distinctive approach. She commences her creative process by crafting poems and translating them into visual masterpieces, skilfully incorporating techniques inspired by classical European painters. Drawing from the influences of renowned surrealists, she adeptly portrays everyday scenes and landscapes through the interplay of light and shadow, echoing the nuanced methods found in Dutch painting. Beyond its aesthetic allure, her work also poignantly delves into themes of individual solitude and the perpetual quest for inner peace and connection with others.
Within 'Spleen,' Laure Mary’s oil paintings persist in embodying her distinctively surrealistic approach, reminiscent of Magritte's enigmatic puzzles, where familiar objects and spaces are arranged in unconventional and thought-provoking configurations. Notably, the artist diverges from her established style in these recent works, introducing human figures and origami designs into her compositions.
This departure introduces a novel dimension to her exploration of the relationship between representation and reality. There's a newfound sense of maturity and a boldness in seamlessly merging Asian elements with the European painterly tradition, enabling the artist to convey her thoughts authentically and connect with the audience on a human level.
The exhibition's color palette features deep greys, blues, and pinks, evoking the ambiance of films by Steve McQueen or Mike Leigh and recreating the atmosphere of spleen, aka melancholia. While the initial tone may appear quite somber, Laure Mary chooses to view life through rose-colored lenses, offering a poetic perspective that paves the way to a magical realm filled with hope and dreams. To guide viewers in materializing this illusory world, she poses a series of existential questions through the artwork titles: Did something happen here? Did it really matter? Are you improving? Are you ready?
In an attempt to recollect memories of all things special and pleasing to the senses, the artist seeks to discern what is genuinely significant in life. Despite their delicate and fragile nature, akin to an origami boat or a drifting dandelion flower, these rare moments are etched in memory as perfect.
Ultimately, Laure Mary’s art remains an unwavering meditation on the diverse facets of human experience — from ultimate destructiveness to desperate tenacity, optimism, and the essential tenderness required to sustain life and love amid the world's challenges.