2018.01.28JdL #1 Painting

BVRT – Beauty from Violence – Redemption and Transformation seen through the perspectives of Paris’ Green Spaces (Parks, Gardens, Squares). The start of the process was looking at those green spaces within the city of Paris that are associated with a moment of violence in history, but where there is no, or little, evidence of that violence today. Of the more than 500 gardens and parks in the city, 50 or so that contain this dichotomy, these conflicting states of energy. This is the project that I came to Paris to work on, the project that will keep me busy for the next couple of decades. Given 50 sites, and at least 20 paintings per site, there will be something like 1,000 paintings, with other options to come (maybe some sculpture? Certainly blog entries, maybe a book...) I decided to start with the Jardin du Luxembourg. It is not the oldest of Paris’ public parks, but in my mind, is a quintessential expression of French Garden Design. This first piece introduces the elements that will continue to show up throughout the series: the trees that are pruned as vertical hedges, a move which expresses a luscious degree of abstraction, and calligraphy, suggesting substance and stories that are nearly impossible to read today. The idea is to bring that juxtaposition of divergent energies back up to the surface. Today, when we visit the Jardin du Luxembourg, it’s easy to be captivated by its formal beauty. It’s a lovely spot to soak up the sun, read a book, meet up with friends. But it’s also been the site of beaudacious parties, and extensive violence. You can still see bullet holes in the façade of the Ecole des Mines, and during the 2nd World War, the Germans had constructed four bunkers under the garden! Not too far away, you had the Resistants at Denfert Rochereau, and in between, a maze of tunnels, hallways, and rooms. Take a wrong turn, and it was not gonna be a good day for you. But today, the Jardin is a delightful respite in the middle of city. So come, enter with me into this wonderful world. Take a few moments to sit and enjoy an extraordinary expression of beauty!

Painting:Ink on Paper

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:7.9 W x 7.9 H x 0 D in

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