"The Unexpected" [Viva LA Vida]" Painting

This work was presented at a group exhibition in an art gallery in Saint-Etienne (France) in July 2021. This exhibition, entitled "Sourire Zéro Déchet", had the "constraints" of creating a work on a round support, recycling hygiene masks and integrating a smile. This was a challenge in the middle of the COVID period. In his close circle, Patrick Gourgouillat learned of the birth of babies, conceived during periods of lock-down. The idea came to him to create "The Unexpected" as a surprise of life in these difficult times. For the first time, he worked on a piece of art thinking about "sculpture", "modelling" and "3D". He recovers hygienic masks that he reduces to paper paste to create a smile. With white glue and gesso, he hardens a blue mask into the shape of a paraglider to which a figure representing an baby is attached. He uses two shades of gold to signify the sun's rays in a geometric way. The paraglider is attached to wire, the whole thing casting a shadow on the circle depending on the light. "The unexpected" is a poetic and tender work. It can evoke a smile as if to counteract the weight of the difficulties associated with the virus.