At the heart of Paris’ vibrant art scene, Galerie Templon is set to unveil a remarkable exhibition by the esteemed French artist François Rouan. Known for his intricate braided canvases, Rouan steps into the realm of photography with his latest series, “Photographic-Tableaux”. This collection, comprising forty previously unseen works created since 2020, will be on display from April 30 to July 13, 2025.
Rouan’s journey in the arts has been marked by a relentless pursuit of innovation. His signature technique of pictorial braiding, which he began exploring over four decades ago, has become a hallmark of his artistic identity. With “Photographic-Tableaux”, Rouan continues to deconstruct and reinvent the notion of painting, this time through the lens of photography.
The exhibition, titled “Après-coup”, presents a series of small-format photographic artworks that are the fruit of Rouan’s inexhaustible impulse to experiment. These images, characterized by a resolutely pared-back palette, oscillate between understated black and white landscapes with occasional hints of coral or salmon. The simplicity of this color range opens a gateway to the metaphysical questions that have long obsessed the artist, particularly those concerning the body and the origins of the world.
Creating these “photographic-tableaux” is a meticulous and complex process. Rouan allows his models to guide the staging before he engages in techniques such as multiple exposures and photographic braiding. The final touches include hatching, dots, tracery, or tiny commas, resulting in dynamic images that blur the lines between abstraction and figuration.
Rouan’s works are not just visually striking; they resonate with contemporary concerns about our relationship to images, the unseen depths beneath surfaces, and the role of art in reconstructing a fragmented material and mental world. The exhibition promises to be a profound reflection on the nature of visual perception and the enduring power of artistic expression.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Galerie Templon will release a catalogue in May 2024, featuring a text by Agnès Fabre. This publication will delve deeper into Rouan’s artistic journey and the conceptual underpinnings of his “photographic-tableaux” series.
As we look forward to this captivating exhibition, we are reminded of Rouan’s significant contribution to contemporary art. His ability to weave together different mediums and techniques ensures that “Photographic-Tableaux” will be a testament to his enduring quest for a gaze that reveals what the eye cannot see.
For art enthusiasts and collectors alike, “Après-coup” at Galerie Templon is an event not to be missed. It is an invitation to explore the interplay of light, texture, and form through the unique vision of François Rouan.
Templon Art Gallery
30, rue Beaubourg - 75003 Paris