From October 18, 2024 to January 5, 2025, the FIAA Le Mans Art center presents an exhibition dedicated to Aboriginal arts, showcasing more than 70 paintings. Léo Ivorra, cultural mediator, tells us more about these people and their arts.
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Thousands of colorful dots, meticulously arranged, form fascinating symbols on more than 70 canvases. Since October 18, 2024 and until January 5, 2025, the FIAA art center in Le Mans is hosting an exhibition dedicated to Aboriginal art.
If these paintings seem abstract at first glance, they are, in reality, “always full of meaning” explains Léo Ivorra, cultural mediator at the FIAA in Le Mans. In front of a painting by Clifford Possum, one of the most renowned Aboriginal artists, Léo Ivorria comments “Aboriginal people tell stories through their paintings, which are often maps seen from the sky, to help people navigate through the bush and desert.”
Léo Ivorra, cultural mediator, presents a painting by Clifford Possum, Aboriginal artist.
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© Marc Yvard
These people, present on the Australian continent for more than 50,000 years, originally expressed their art on sand, tree bark or even bodies during ceremonies. “It was a truly ephemeral art. It was always very important to them because they did not develop a writing system. The transmission of myths, codes and societies took place through these graphic forms.” taught Leo Ivorra
They have kept the same symbols, which have been transmitted for thousands of years, but using a modern medium, which is painting.
Cultural mediator
Today their art finds support on canvases. The mediator adds: “They have kept the same symbols, which have been transmitted for thousands of years, but using a modern medium, which is painting. With the arrival of this new support, they have also been renewed a little, especially in the colors”
“We have some paintings with very bright colors, yellow, bright red, blue. That did not exist in the natural pigments used by the aborigines in traditional art.”
Moving from ground to canvas allowed these aboriginal populations “to recall their presence and fight for their civil rights.”, confides Leo Ivorra “it’s a political act” he adds.
“Thanks to the strong support, they were able to sell works and grow their community. Because they don’t have an individualistic way of living like we can have in Europe. They really live in a community, in family, among friends, in a clan. A painting sold, for example, by an artist like Clifford Possum, can enable an entire community to live well for several months.” reveals the mediator.
Practical information:
- Location: FIAA Art Center, 8 Allée Leprince d’Ardenay, Le Mans
- Date: From October 18, 2024 to January 5, 2025
- Guided tour by reservation on Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m.
- Contact : [email protected] – 02 21 76 02 34
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