Daniel Dewar and Grégory Gicquel chose the Salle des Festins, at the Palais Jacques-Cœur, to install their exhibition, Cabbage shells and leaves. A new stage of the Bourges contemporary art trail #5.
They are arranged in three rows, placed on pedestals and despite the artificiality of this arrangement, their presence seems natural. In the Feast Room, the blondness of the oak, the delicacy of the sculpted motifs, the tender color of the ceramics are in their place. Most of the pieces presented were created for the venue
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“Like this fireplace in which form takes precedence over substance, which is more of a castle than a fireplace, we can consider these pieces of furniture as follies, architectural factories,” explains Daniel Dewar.
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He worked on this exhibition with Grégory Gicquel. It’s been twenty-five years since these “self-taught technicians” (“as we like to say”, slips Daniel Dewar), who met in art school, have been developing as a duo a work of sculpture on wood, ceramics, textiles, marquetry… In their workshop, they have a large wood-fired oven in which they fired large stoneware pitchers planted well on their single foot, on which snails slide.
We find them, these snails, on the wooden benches whose embroidered cushions tell the story of the cycle of life, the cabbage caterpillar which becomes a butterfly… The amused gaze sharpens a little and uncovers rows of ears among the shells, and then noses placed on the edges of the pumpkin cabinet.
A sculptural vis-à-vis
The apple tarts were “gouged by hand,” explains Daniel Dewar. The work of the gouge imitates that of the knife which cuts the apples. It is a technique which represents another. “By choosing to invest the room of Festins, the two artists did not want to “stage a banquet which never took place, since Jacques Cœur never lived in this palace, but rather to create a sculptural face-to-face”. And if they mention food, there is no question of a feast.
Martine Pesez
As part of the One artist/One monument program, initiated by the Center des monuments nationaux.
Practical.
Until September 22, every day from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. (from July 1 from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.). Admission: 9 euros and free for under-26s.
Fridays July 5 and 12, express mediation from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 45-minute visit at 5:15 p.m. Information on www.palais-jacques-coeur.fr.Receive our leisure newsletter by email and find ideas for outings and activities in your region.
