There is always something happening at the Dominican Gallery in Nice. Indeed, almost every week you can discover a new exhibition there. We will not discuss the Mostra, which should be over by the time you read these lines, but rather the artist we met at the opening.
Cyril Mendjisky was born in Paris in 1968. This artist is both a painter and a sculptor. Is he: impressionist, fauve, or cubist? We are talking about the painter.
As for the sculptor, how to classify him? Between the pure and slender lines of ‘Swing’ or ‘The Andalusian’ and ‘The Woman with the Blue Ribbon’, one is projected from Giacometti to Niki de Saint Phalle. One cannot classify what is unique, and Cyril is unique. Some might say eclectic, why not. In any case, we were charmed by his creations and will mention ‘The Scooter’ or ‘The Old Man’ among his many sculptures. These two works are full of life, animated.
We step aside to let this adolescent and his scooter pass. We want to sit next to this old man; he has so much to tell us! Cyril’s sculpture is realistic; we mean true. Look at ‘It’s Only Natural’, the bucket overflows with water flowing fresh and pure from the faucet. You hear the splashing of the overflowing drops from the bucket. ‘The Catfish’ jumps and surfs on the waves. Cyril could be considered a sculptor of life; we approach the characterization of this artist. Now let’s look at the painter. The open window on a garden, the house radiated with light and the table set for a meal with the wine, nectar of the Gods. Bonnard? Picasso? Or who else?
Cyril Mendjisky takes us into his universe. ‘The Four Seasons’ where the painter is very comfortable with colors. The character, a star dancer, Nijinsky in green, white, red, and blue. Cyril revisits the seasons, from the rebirth of nature to blooming then the blaze of autumn and the sleep of winter. You hear Vivaldi and see nature live and slumber.
The artist created a theater decor, that of a ballet, the Firebird. ‘The Yellow Chair’, sunlit, full of light, the woman dozing enjoys the sun’s rays. We spoke of a sculptor of life. We can say the same for the painter. His paintings are alive, the subjects move, shift. Even a still life is animated. ‘Red Wine’ collage and painted metal, you can glimpse through the open window, in the distance, the village illuminated by sunshine and light.
Cyril Mendjisky is an artist of optimism. He sculpts life and paints light. With him the bottle is full, his Sophia is optimism. A piece of advice, don’t miss the next exhibition by Cyril Mendjisky. You will be reconciled with yourself and adopt this maxim: “Do not worry about tomorrow, each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Thierry Jan
