Jean-Marc Thommen's Calligraphic Abstraction at Le Vog, Fontaine
The solo exhibition 'À main levée' by Jean-Marc Thommen is showcased at Le Vog Centre d'art contemporain de la Ville de Fontaine, running through April 19, 2014. This display features non-figurative art marked by a profound focus and calligraphic energy. Thommen's paintings consist of three distinct layers: a flat background, a delicate or medium freehand line, and a bold primitive symbol that evokes an unreadable ancient script. The compositions are structured by expansive areas of color (red, gray, black, white), reminiscent of silence in musical pieces. Thommen draws connections between his work and composers like John Cage and Thelonious Monk, highlighting silence and spatial arrangement. Additionally, he produces spontaneous murals, including 'Improvisation 6', crafted with martial arts-like precision. Concurrently, a group exhibition titled 'À dessein – le dessin', featuring François Bouillon, Claudie Floutier, and Thommen, is on display at École d'art Gérard Jacot in Belfort until the same date.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'À main levée' at Le Vog Centre d'art contemporain de la Ville de Fontaine until April 19, 2014.
- Jean-Marc Thommen's non-figurative works feature calligraphic abstraction with three compositional levels.
- Works include large empty color fields that function like silence in music.
- Thommen draws inspiration from composers John Cage, Thelonious Monk, Stockhausen, Morton Feldman, and Gesualdo.
- Improvised murals like 'Improvisation 6' are created with concentration akin to martial arts.
- Group exhibition 'À dessein – le dessin' at École d'art Gérard Jacot, Belfort, includes Bouillon, Floutier, and Thommen.
- Thommen's paintings achieve transparency effects, compared to David Hockney's depictions of glass and water.
- Works are titled 'Sans titre' with color descriptors, e.g., 'Sans titre (gris anthracite)', 2014.
Entities
Artists
- Jean-Marc Thommen
- François Bouillon
- Claudie Floutier
- David Hockney
- John Cage
- Thelonious Monk
- Miles Davis
- Erik Satie
- Stockhausen
- John Lennon
- Paul McCartney
- Morton Feldman
- Gesualdo
- Marcel Duchamp
- Luciano Berio
- Philippe Manoury
- Johannes Maria Stasny
Institutions
- Le Vog Centre d'art contemporain de la Ville de Fontaine
- École d'art Gérard Jacot
Locations
- Fontaine
- France
- Belfort
- Pantin
- 10 avenue Aristide Briand 38000 Fontaine
- 2 avenue de l’Espérance 90000 Belfort
Sources
- artpress —