At Lafayette Anticipations in Paris, French artist Hélène Fauquet‘s “Vivresse Paris Exhibition” reimagines the connection between photography and ornamentation. Opened on October 21, 2026, this exhibition marks her first institutional showcase in France. Situated on the foundation’s top floor, her work transforms the perception of photographs through intricate shells, frames, and their dissolution into surroundings.
The exhibition title, a blend of the French terms “vie” (life) and “ivresse” (intoxication), suggests a blend of vitality and desire. Fauquet explores themes that merge natural and artificial forms, challenging the audience to see objects not just as decorations but as representations that traverse Surrealism. The event invites viewers to experience this captivating blend firsthand.
Seashell Sculptures and the Exhibition
Central to the showcase are sculptural pieces intertwining seashells with photographic elements. These creations obscure parts of the photographs, effectively blending image and sculpture. The photographs, surrounded by elaborately styled frames, transcend their conventional roles. They become components of a trio merging image, sculpture, and artifact, echoing the lavishness of Rococo design while challenging the line between the natural and the man-made.
This fascination with mixing art forms can also be seen in Tomás Saraceno’s monumental works that fuse spider webs and solar balloons, offering yet another captivating exploration of art blending natural and man-made elements.
Millie Dow, an art writer, highlights Fauquet’s distinctive approach in her exhibit text, noting that the artist’s work effectively flips the traditional transformation of nature into ornamental forms, using an ornate vocabulary to present natural objects in new contexts. In this context, Fauquet’s innovative approach is highlighted as a defining feature.
Bubbles and Reflections: Fascination with Forms
Bubbles are another thematic element Fauquet revisits, inspired by diverse sources from advertising to the scientific. Since 2023, she has used bubbles as symbols of the transient and reflective, capturing forms that hover between transparency and solid reflection. This motif furthers her exam of image movement, the perception, and evolution of visual data within the art exhibition.
Drawing parallels to previous pieces like “Phenomena” from Kunsthaus Glarus, Fauquet uses these works to layer scientific photos and found art within decorative contexts, continuing her exploration of physical presentation’s power in altering image meanings. Born in Saint-Saulve, France, in 1989, Fauquet is now Paris-based, and the showcase will be displayed at Lafayette Anticipations until January 3, 2027, offering free admission to visitors.
For those interested in the interplay between art and photography, Mariano Peccinetti’s surreal collages blend vintage photography with cosmic landscapes, presenting another intriguing take on photographic creativity.
Source: designboom.com
Frequently asked questions
What is the theme of Hélène Fauquet’s Vivresse exhibition?
Hélène Fauquet’s ‘Vivresse’ exhibition explores themes that merge natural and artificial forms, challenging the audience to see objects not just as decorations but as representations that traverse Surrealism. The exhibition reimagines the connection between photography and ornamentation, blending images with sculptural elements like seashells and ornate Rococo frames.
When and where is the Vivresse exhibition taking place?
The Vivresse exhibition is taking place at Lafayette Anticipations in Paris, and it opened on October 21, 2026. The showcase will be displayed there until January 3, 2027, with free admission to visitors.
What is the significance of bubbles in Fauquet’s work?
Bubbles in Fauquet’s work serve as symbols of the transient and reflective, capturing forms that hover between transparency and solid reflection. This motif is used to examine image movement, perception, and the evolution of visual data.
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