Marc CHEVALIER (1967) - Lot 162

Marc CHEVALIER (1967) Abstract red composition Mixed media and collage of transparent red adhesive strips on PVC panel 160 x 160 cm (The strips are missing in places on the sides of the frame) EXHIBITION An exhibition devoted to the artist is being prepared at the Eva VAUTIER gallery (Nice) before the end of the year. NOTICE Marc Chevalier (b. 1967) is a contemporary French artist whose work explores the boundaries between abstraction and figuration through mixed media such as painting, drawing and sculpture. His artistic approach, marked by a great freedom of form and texture, follows in the footsteps of many of the great names in contemporary art. Close to abstract expressionism in his expressive use of materials and gestures, he shares affinities with artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Antoni Tàpies. Like them, Chevalier mixes abstraction with figurative elements, playing with the surface and texture of his works. Like Tàpies, he also incorporates unconventional materials into his compositions, making matter almost palpable and introducing sculptural elements into his paintings. Chevalier's research into the confrontation between chaos and order, spontaneity and mastery, can also be compared to artists such as Gerhard Richter, who also oscillates between abstraction and figuration, while exploring the materiality of painting. Chevalier's approach to profound and symbolic themes, particularly in relation to humanity and nature, also links him to artists such as Anselm Kiefer, known for his monumental works that combine history, matter and poetry. In a more instinctive and raw vein, Chevalier shares an affinity with the artists of art brut and art informel, such as Jean Dubuffet, whose exploration of matter and questioning of academic norms find an echo in Chevalier's creations. His uncomplicated approach to form, inspired by both primitive art and urban graffiti, also brings him closer to the world of Cy Twombly, with whom he shares a taste for spontaneous gestures and scribbled or abstract lines. Marc Chevalier continues to explore these avenues with a personal touch, pushing back the boundaries of his art and blending diverse influences to produce singular, vibrant and enigmatic works. He is part of the tradition of contemporary artists who use matter as a means of expressing human emotion and complexity.