Propos d'Europe: Six European Artists at Fondation Hippocrène

Fondation Hippocrène, founded in 1972 by Jean Guyot, a close associate of Jean Monnet, celebrates its tenth anniversary with an exhibition titled 'Propos d'Europe' at its headquarters in Paris. Curated by Pascale Le Thorel, the show features works by six European artists: José Manuel Broto (Spain), Jean Daviot (France), Valérie Favre (Swiss living in Germany), Anthony Freestone (England), Giuseppe Penone (Italy), and Lydia Venieri (Greece). The venue is the former Mallet-Stevens agency, a prestigious location designed by architect Robert Mallet-Stevens, located on Rue Mallet-Stevens in the 16th arrondissement. Due to limited space, the exhibition feels like a private collector's apartment. In the main hall, Freestone's paintings explore phrases from 'My Fair Lady' (1964). Penone's drawing features a fingerprint that evokes tree rings. Upstairs, Favre's large painting faces her 'Lapine Universe' series. In the basement, Daviot's painted hands depicting an imaginary language contrast with Broto's transparent abstractions. Venieri's cut steel symbols on a wall resonate with Daviot's cabalistic symbols. The exhibition runs from 17 October to 31 December 2002.