ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Richard Fauguet's Optical Illusions at Château de Jau

exhibition · 2026-04-23

From June 29 to September 30, 2001, Richard Fauguet presented an exhibition at the Fondation Château de Jau in Jau, France, centered on optics and representation. A standout piece from the Frac Aquitaine collection featured tables adorned with transparent glass objects—optical devices playfully crafted from Pyrex dishes and flasks. At 38, Fauguet shares a keen interest in optical themes akin to Dalí. The exhibition also showcased mirrors reflecting Mr. Clean, two race cars illustrated as flat rectangles with floating helmets, and a ping-pong game with balls suspended on wires. Fauguet's creations highlight pure representation, fostering an atmosphere of exclusion where time appears frozen and identifiable figures are missing.

Key facts

  • Exhibition at Fondation Château de Jau, Jau, France
  • Dates: June 29 to September 30, 2001
  • Centerpiece: tables with transparent glass objects from Frac Aquitaine collection
  • Objects are optical instruments reconstructed from commercial items like Pyrex and lab flasks
  • One room featured mirrors with Mr. Clean figure, interpreted as self-portraits
  • Two other installations: flattened race cars with suspended helmets, and a ping-pong ball kinetic sculpture
  • Fauguet uses real space to address representational questions, akin to shaped canvases and Futurist painting
  • Works evoke a sense of exclusion and suspended time, with absent human figures

Entities

Artists

  • Richard Fauguet
  • Salvador Dalí
  • Michael Fried

Institutions

  • Fondation Château de Jau
  • Frac Aquitaine

Locations

  • Jau
  • France

Sources