A first glance at Cendrine Bolaram’s paintings reveals both stylistic coherence from one solo to the next and a depth of purpose, halfway between philosophical reflection and chronicle of everyday life, often with a touch of humor or irony. To discover at Hennessy Park Hotel à Ébèneuntil March 31. Dominique Bellier
Cendrine Bolaram has found her color palette and even her artistic language in the wake of confinement, moving from penumbra to light, favoring pastel colors, bestiary symbolism and a form of critical onirism. There’s nothing naïve here: rather, look for depth and philosophical references.
The young artist likes to explain her work when she’s asked, curious too about everyone’s freedom of interpretation. In this clear palette animated by symbolic objects or animals, whose design refers to the world of cartoon representations (comics, fairy tales, K-pop…), she sometimes stages herself in the contrasting style of hyperrealism. Her dog at the breakfast table with her is also depicted, as is a bat, which for once enjoys a precious hospitality (Tu casa es mi casa).
The artist wants to draw attention to the value of small things and the need to live fully in the present: when we drink a cup of coffee, are we aware of the human activity that preceded it? We’re not walking a tightrope of magical realism, but rather like tightrope walkers on a tightrope between life and imagination, conscience and wisdom… The sheep falling from the sky, wearing a lifebuoy, refers to the behavior of the Mauritian voter, who follows the watchwords like Panurge’s sheep. But beyond the original intention, this painting questions us all: to what extent do we really think for ourselves?