Philippe Cognée's Melancholic Figuration: Retrospectives and Recent Works

Philippe Cognée, whose career began in the early 1980s, is currently highlighted in a retrospective at the Musée de Dole from March 16 to June 2, 2013, after a previous exhibition at the Musée de Grenoble and recent displays at Galerie Daniel Templon. He emerged during the revival of figuration in the 1980s, initially crafting mythological stories influenced by his upbringing in Benin. In 1991, he began using a method that involved photographing, retouching images, projecting them onto canvas, and applying a wax-and-pigment mixture for painting. His works, which include urban landscapes and housing projects, depict modern alienation. Since the 1990s, he has also explored pastoral scenes and created a vanitas series in the 2000s that honors the transient nature of life. Recent pieces showcase lively urban scenes and portraits, reflecting a complex emotional range.