Doninique Ghesquiere – Grande Tapisserie Solo Exhibition

Text and images by Chen Chi-Hsiang. Venue: Valentin Gallery. Dates: September 6 to October 11. Contemporary art development is highly diverse. The continuous updating of digital technology media expands people's horizons and enriches the presentation of contemporary art. Under the prevalence of composite media, paintings are transformed into objects, media, and spatial installations. Their novel scenes and situations embody new visual senses and consciousness, which cannot be replaced by traditional painting or sculpture. Looking at current art, no matter how advanced new media and digital technology become, the essence of art remains unchanged and cannot be changed. Beneath the colorful and brilliant artistic surface, it is the depth and height of art that can inspire people.

Is nature in art humanistic nature or landscape nature? Do not forget that humans are part of nature. Nature is natural; humanism and landscape are two sides of the same coin. Nature and landscapes are reflections of human existence. French writer Jean Louis Poinvetin wrote: "Landscape is the name for the relationship we maintain with others, those that embrace us so tightly that they make us open our eyes to learn, those that surround and compose the environment in which we live...."

In this solo exhibition of large tapestries, young French artist Doninique Ghesquiere uses natural material media (such as branches, pebbles, birds, pinecone scales). These concretely evoke nature and landscapes. Each material medium has its unique installation situation and spatial field. Touching the scene evokes emotion, and natural landscapes appear before one's eyes. Here, the artist proposes two experiences. First, a direct understanding of the materials used. Second, an abstract guidance leading the audience back into his profound memories.

The exhibition takes three birch tree branches from the forest, "Leaves (2014)," as the core landscape. At first glance, it seems the artist directly appropriated dead trees. In fact, the artist subtly reshaped them, grafting birch leaves onto the dead branches. Emerald green foliage, full of natural vitality, demonstrates conceptual changes in time, space, and seasons under the natural boundaries of objects. On the ground, a pile of gray pebbles, "Rolling Stones (2014)," summons the sound of waves. Smooth pebbles roll with the waves, depicting the scene of waves crashing again and again. On the multi-layered gray pebbles, some have white lines drawn on them, forming an abstract, random composition. This invites contemplation of the ancient history and existential meaning between smooth pebbles and the sea.

Two works resembling natural history museum pieces are "Bird" and "Shedding" (2014). The former shows a bird near the wall with wings spread in flight. The latter arranges peeled pinecone scales neatly into a monochrome painting. Through attitude and behavior, nature is transformed into humanistic consciousness, poetically demonstrating the artist's imagination. Finally, referencing the natural theme of "Clouds (2014)," bank checks painted with color are cut into thin strips by a paper cutter and gathered into a floating installation. This metaphorically reflects the current financial tsunami situation. Colorful clouds present the cyclical natural state of climate. Water evaporates on the ground to become clouds and falls back to the ground as rain, questioning the social state of the world's current finance and economy.