Hélène Fauquet's Vivresse at Lafayette Anticipations: Shells, Frames, and Photographic Disruption

The inaugural institutional exhibition of Hélène Fauquet in France, titled Vivresse, commenced on October 21, 2026, at Lafayette Anticipations in Paris and will be accessible for free until January 3, 2027. Located on the foundation's upper floor, the exhibition showcases sculptures that blend seashell shapes with photographic elements, partially veiling images with three-dimensional features. Intricate frames, inspired by decorative objects and ornamental niches, transcend traditional supports and evoke Rococo extravagance, blurring the lines between natural and artificial forms. Art critic Millie Dow remarks that Fauquet inverts the usual process of turning nature into decoration. The exhibition's title merges the French terms for life (vie) and intoxication (ivresse), hinting at a fusion of vitality and desire. A recurring bubble motif, influenced by advertising and scientific imagery since 2023, manifests as unstable forms that balance transparency and reflection, building on previous works like Phenomena, displayed at Kunsthaus Glarus in Switzerland in 2023. Born in 1989 in Saint-Saulve, France, and currently residing in Paris, Fauquet explores how the physical presentation of images alters their meanings.