Hervé HEUZÉ - Recent Paintings of Summits

Galerie Richard presents a new solo exhibition by Hervé HEUZÉ entitled “Recent Paintings of Summits”, which follows directly from his previous work devoted to Alpine landscapes and the Mont Blanc massif. Through this new series, the artist continues his exploration of the representation of mountains and, more specifically, of light, a central and structuring element of his work for many years.

For this exhibition, Hervé HEUZÉ has chosen to work exclusively in color, marking a significant evolution compared to certain earlier series produced in black and white. This chromatic orientation allows him to reconnect with a more pictorial and sensitive approach to landscape, while maintaining a critical distance from photographic realism.

The works presented are generally smaller in format than in his previous exhibitions, leaving broad areas within more compact compositions, which enhances a sense of silence and contemplation. At the same time he presents new shapes, such as wide small panoramical paintings. The origin of this format comes from a request by a german collector living in the Italian alps for a very large panoramical painting in color.

A new formal element plays an important role in this series : the deliberate and thoughtful integration of a system of paint drips, a process frequently used in contemporary art. Far from being accidental, these drips are fully conceived and controlled by the artist. Their execution required certain canvases to be painted in an inclined position, in order to control the flow of the pictorial material. On a symbolic level, these drips evoke the melting of snow, indirectly echoing the climatic transformations affecting Alpine landscapes.