Until August 17, Frédéric Gracia takes over the Old Nice in the Galerie Babazouk. The sixty-year-old artist presents an exhibition on the theme of cosmic depths.
After a first exhibition at the Black Box Room of Bon Voyage, Frédéric Gracia returns to Nice, this time at the Galerie Babazouk. The artist, trained in Applied Arts, unveils no less than 39 paintings, blending trompe-l’œil with fluorescent paint under black light.
“I should have brought more paintings!,” exclaims Frédéric Gracia. However, the walls of the Galerie Babazouk are largely occupied by the works of the native Parisian. At his disposal are two floors to fully express his talent. The darkness of the rooms highlights the dozens of canvases.
All are connected and strategically placed to follow a logical sequence. Moreover, the paintings react to the light. “If you stand in front of the scope, it feels like the colors are changing,” specifies Frédéric Gracia. The works invite viewers to admire them from left to right to observe the effects of brightness and depth, notably thanks to the fluorescent paint. Many trompe-l’œil are also exhibited. Among them, the trace of the first astrologers on the Moon.
Water and Volcanoes
One of the main axes of the exhibition is the work on the oppositions of dryness and water droplets: “I really like the shine and design of the water droplet, but also its volume effect. In reality, the painting is completely flat,” enthuses Frédéric Gracia. The artist has many tricks up his sleeve. Besides painting, he engages in work on volcanoes. Head to the basement, where there is an entire series related to the volcanic theme. “I will also be installing lithographs,” he adds.
One of the paintings highlights lava reaching the surface, which contrasts with all the blue of the sea at the top. Colossal works. So, how much time does it take to create them? “It’s very complicated to say. Some works require more time than others. I would need a stopwatch! Sometimes, I work on several paintings at once, just like some people read several books over the same period.“
His website, www.art-gracia.com, allows to discover his entire work. In parallel with his activity as a easel painter, Frédéric Gracia has a workshop in Le Plessis-Robinson, in the Paris region, as well as a pied-à-terre in Nice. He is also known for his monumental decorations, notably those of water towers. For now, it is Nice that is in the spotlight…
