Calais peint

Listen to the lecture on France Culture Plus.

Stéphane Calais’s work owes its singularity not so much to its diversity or protean character (though both are rightfully acknowledged) as to the particular way in which he moves from one medium to another and changes styles, genres, moods, tones within the same installation or drawing. His work is the meeting point of decorative compositions in a style akin to that of comics, and paintings hinting at tachisme or lyricism in oval or round formats. Like a swordsman taking his movements after a foilsman’s, or a boxer starting to dance, Calais sometimes erects walls that look like pages torn from a sketchbook or, on the contrary, builds cells or fortresses with drawings. His world, which crosses a baroque touch or drawing style and expressionism, is dominated by allusive presence. For his current exhibition “En France” at the CCC in Tours, which runs until Feb. 2, Stéphane Calais has chosen to present only paintings or murals, creating echoes between works and multiplying points of view. The event starkly contrasts with the profusion of installations usually presented by the artist, and will serve as the starting point of our discussion. Other topics will include drawing, often associated with Stéphane Calais’s name, and the artist’s many responsibilities in public commissions as well as curatorships.