Jacques Martinez's 'Bodegón' at Galerie Gastou

Jacques Martinez's exhibition 'Bodegón' opens October 21, 2010, at Galerie Yves et Victor Gastou in Paris, featuring bronze sculptures, photographs, and drawings. The works, inspired by gourds and cucurbits, are part of a larger project revisiting traditional genres like still life, nude, landscape, and abstraction. Martinez, born in El-Biar, Algeria in 1944, and living in Paris, uses the Spanish term 'bodegón' to emphasize the edible, comestible aspect of still life. The sculptures evoke the 'cougourdon' (a Niçois gourd), referencing personal memories and cultural identity. The exhibition includes pieces with zoomorphic qualities, some with bumps resembling bottle caps, paying homage to Nouveaux Réalistes like César or Arman. Martinez's work also alludes to Gaudí's Casa Milà in Barcelona and Matisse's godron pot, as noted in Aragon's novel. The artist's programmatic approach began on July 7, 2003, when he decided to structure time into five seasons. 'Bodegón' is the first installment, focusing on still life, with future series planned for nudes, landscapes, and abstractions. The sculptures, made from clay or plaster before being cast in bronze, are described as 'prehensible objects' that viewers navigate around. The exhibition runs from October 21 to November 20, 2010.