Thierry Diers- Passion(s)

Friday, March 30, Saturday, March 31, Sunday, April 1 and Monday, April 2

From 14h30 to 19h

Espace des Coutures Saint Gervais 

6 rue des Coutures Saint Gervais – 75003 Paris

(ex Duboys gallery - along the Picasso Museum)

Passion(s)

Pivotal topic of Western art since the Middle-age, The Passion of The Christ has been endlessly treated by artists. What one may less know is that it has been equally used throughout the 20^th century.

Artists managed to open a subject that used to be faith-based. We of course still find some mystics that searched in Jesus of Nazareth’s suffering an echo to human condition, while others have questioned this theme’s iconographic nature, and its importance towards our visual culture. Others seized the “pop” flavor of this kind of an image that oscillates between the cliché and the kitsch. As we enter the 21^st century, as the topic of fraternity between human beings has never been so pivotal, this history of a man suffering for the sake of others can, one more time, be useful.

The artist, giving away of portion of his intimacy to better shape it up in order to let the viewer secretly heal his own soul, responds to that actual dynamic. Some use it as an abstract parabola; some others give their own interpretation about it; some others, less attached to the idea of an original sin, see others clear breaches of humanity towards its neighbor that need to be fixed. If each one of us has his own belief or unbelief, every artist thinks his work as a positive way of exchanging for human beings. Our motive here is to present a panorama of creators, men and women, from different locations and generations, that tried, with their work, to mend their fellow’s soul.

                                                                                                                                                         Nicolas-Xavier Ferrand

"Passion(s)" Lille 2017

How to tackle this plan ?

I must succeed in letting myself submit to flashing ideas and memories. What I understand is that I understand nothing or so little, having the impression of being outside, my children today, Syria, the migrants and time which flies past.

What strikes me is the solitude in the Mount of Olives. We are there, we sleep and flee, stuck in our human mediocrity. Then, there is physical violence, spittle and nails. Nothing romantic, everything is horrible, dirty, violent and fast. There is the time of a lingering death, the closest friends who are waiting, the Deposition of the body and then void, solitude and shame.

To die left alone and forsaken for the salvation of the world ? What moves me are solitude and desertion. He has given his love and is now giving his life and his own self for nothing and for ever.

Thierry Diers