French aritist Milène Sanchez. [Photo/C. Sanglard]

French artist Milène Sanchez's debut exhibition outside Europe has made its way to Shanghai's Icicle space, showcasing a collection of artworks that delve into the themes of life, eternity and sensibility. The exhibition, which will be open to the public until Aug 25, presents 20 pieces created by the emerging painter in 2023, each a testament to her unique vision and artistic prowess.

Curated by Myriam Kryger, the exhibition features large-scale paintings that play with shapes and colors. Sanchez's work, characterized by a delicate balance between dullness and transparency, blurriness and clarity, brightness and obscurity, has resonated deeply with viewers, drawing them into a world of nuanced emotions and perceptions.

Born in France in 1997, Sanchez currently resides and works in Brussels, having graduated from ESAD Saint-Étienne in 2021. In regards to the work in this exhibition, Sanchez has skillfully manipulated shapes and colors to reflect symbolic motifs, such as flowers and faces.

Despite never having visited China, Sanchez immersed herself in the culture through Asian museums and video archives, developing a profound fascination with Chinese art and ideology. This newfound inspiration led her to conduct extensive research on Chinese culture in preparation for this exhibition tour, which has influenced the thematic underpinnings of her works.

[Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Claire Gastaud]

"What Sanchez has conveyed is perhaps the deep integration and resonance of Eastern and Western cultures," said curator Kryger.

As 2024 commemorates the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France, Icicle space aims to foster artistic dialogue between the two nations by featuring exhibitions that showcase modern artists from both countries. This initiative not only celebrates the longstanding ties between China and France, but also promotes cultural exchange and mutual understanding through the universal language of art.

Source: ThePaper.cn