Istallation view. Photo: Carter Brown.
Virgine Bocaert’s exhibition at the Thompson Landry gallery is nothing short of breathtaking. The artist, currently based in Montreal but originally from France, focused on the female figure in her third solo exhibition. She wished to show in her work what women feel inside but show it through the body.
Artist Virgine Bocaert. Photo: Carter Brown.
Bocaert said that in a way this exhibition could be autobiographic. The pieces are a combination of photography and painting, which gave liberty to the artist to create a new life for each medium.The artist said that she even likes when accidents happen during the process of transferring photographs on the canvas with the paint she adds.
Virgine Bocaert, Délicatesse du moment, mixed media on board, 40″ X 60″. Courtesy of Thompson Landry Gallery.
At first Bocaert did not painted faces for her female figures because she did not want them to have an identity, which is true for many of her paintings in the exhibition. However, after working a lot on photography she learned that faces have so much to say – so she decided to include faces for a few of her figures. In the few faces she did create, for instance in the painting entitled Amour, the viewer recognizes that faces indeed communicate ideas. This large canvas, distinct amongst the rest of the exhibition, shows the face of a woman with an emphasis on her eyes. I found myself completely absorbed as this woman in the painting and I stared back at each other; there is meaning and emotion behind those eyes that seem to be able to speak a lot more than her mouth, which is concealed by a flower.
Virgine Bocaert, Amour, mixed media on board, 60″ X 48″. Courtesy of Thompson Landry Gallery
The artist’s background in fashion is apparent in many of her paintings that show the garments her figures wear. Their light and airy dresses match the ethereal atmosphere present in her whole exhibition. The artist says she likes the effect and touch of fabrics; fashion is something that resides within her and it comes out through her painting.
Virgine Bocaert, Instinct fragile, mixed media on board, 30″ X 30″. Courtesy of Thompson Landry Gallery.
As a female viewer I felt an intimate connection with the paintings; it is incredible how Bocaert communicates the delicacy and grace that is present within a woma’s body. The paintings include this idea of fragility of women but there is also a quiet power that exists in these mysterious figures.
Installation view. Photo: Carter Brown
Bocaert’s paintings are definitely relatable to everyone who loves the beauty of women and the artist wonderfully captures it in her exquisite work. Each piece is so commanding on its own but to appreciate them all side by side in the gallery is absolutely fascinating.
Carter Brown
*Exhibition information: July 10 – 27, 2014, Thompson Landry Gallery, The Distillery District, 6 Trinity Street, Toronto. Gallery hours: Tue – Sat: 11 – 6, Sunday: 12 – 5 p.m.