Alain Clément's Abstract Ribbons at Galerie Baudoin Lebon

Alain Clément's latest paintings at Galerie Baudoin Lebon in Paris feature abstract compositions where wide, creamy ribbons fold within tight canvases. The colors are sober, forms both full and suspended in a constrained yet airy space. An accompanying text by Yves Michaud analyzes Clément's formal evolution over thirty years, from vigorous brushstrokes seeking balance to the supple, soft ribbons. The exhibition also includes sculptures. Michaud notes influences from Matisse's Dance, American abstraction (Motherwell), and Soulages' use of light behind dark forms. The review questions the relevance of such self-referential painting today, asking whether exploring formal and material potentials alone justifies painting's existence, and whether its solipsistic nature limits its impact. The exhibition ran from December 12, 2007 to January 26, 2008.