Galerie Max Hetzler presents “Fire Walk with Me,” the second solo exhibition by French artist Jérémy Demester at the gallery, also his first solo show in Berlin. The exhibition explores the artist’s mystic voyage through myths, symbolism, alchemy, and man’s relationship with the sacred. He also takes up a journey towards self-identity, going back to his ‘gypsy’ roots.In his paintings, he creates abstraction though blurred lines and bands by hand, which create a unique experience for the viewers and give them freedom to meditate. In some paintings Demester uses the technique of war paintings by native American-Indian tribe.Jérémy Demester’s paintings and sculptures go beyond the realms of appearance as they tend to always dwell in diversified layers, as if the artist encrypts his art for the spectators to dig out the meaning. His nomadic background has intrigued him to go back to his gypsy roots and find the raw painter in him, which inspires him for his quest for identity and the same is an undercurrent presented in his works. The new series of works on view has been completed in ten months of the artist’s almost monastic isolation, which he spent in his studio situated in the south of France. This 10 months stay has marked an artistic turn in his practice. The pieces of art created during this time explore a dialogue with figuration and natural elements as they join in artistry to the roots of the artist. The maker etches out his childhood memories and time spent in meditative trips he has taken recently to Africa and America, which are presented as ‘still life,’ of sunrise and sunset, forests, and timeless moments between past and present.Both his paintings and sculptures deal with the ideas of body and motion. The artists creates his works of abstractions, the paintings of blurred lines and gradations, with his own hands using old master's techniques. This rendition of the style is absolutely sensorial and the genuine passion touches the heart of its audiences. The experience is almost physical. The works he created in the series are inspired by Caspar David Friedrich and Arnold Böcklin.Jérémy Demester was born in 1988 in Digne, France and lives and works in Paris. He graduated from the Rocailles School of Fine Arts in Biarritz and the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. In 2014, he was awarded the Aurige Finance Prize. He also received Dean’s Honours and the Friends of the Beaux-Arts Prize in 2015. His works have been showcased in several solo shows including Musée d'art moderne et contemporain de Saint-Étienne and Palais de l'École des Beaux-Arts, Paris (both 2016), Zinsou Foundation in Ouidah, Benin (2015), and ENSBA Paris (2014).“Fire Walk with Me” is being presented through January 20, 2018 at Galerie Max Hetzler, Berlin.For details, visit: http://www.blouinartinfo.com/galleryguide/galerie-max-hetzler/overviewClick on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the artist’s work.
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