Ernest Pignon-Ernest's 'Extases' Drawings at Chapelle des Carmélites

Ernest Pignon-Ernest's exhibition at the Chapelle des Carmélites in Saint-Denis, running from October 15, 2010 to February 28, 2011, featured large-scale drawings of female nudes placed on a still water surface, creating reflections that immerse both bodies and the sacred building. The works evoke mystical figures such as Angela of Foligno, Catherine of Siena, Madame Guyon, Thérèse of Avila, and the Virgin Mary, blending sacred and erotic themes. The exhibition was accompanied by a book, 'Extases' (Gallimard), with drawings by Pignon-Ernest and texts by André Velter. Jacques Henric wrote a poetic text for the exhibition, comparing the dark chapel to the Lascaux caves and praising Pignon-Ernest as a master draftsman of female bodies and a reader of Rimbaud, Nerval, Artaud, and Pasolini.