Press Release

GALERIE D’( A )
COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE
art contemporain
anima
MURIEL DÉCAILLET
19 NOVEMBER - 18 DECEMBER 2010
Muriel Décaillet is the latest contemporary artist to exhibit her work at Galerie d’(A). An artist of a strong
yet fragile nature, she guides us through her work by means of a length of red woollen thread. The thread
reminds us of the story of Ariadne’s thread in Greek mythology and the colour red conjures up many
symbolic meanings: it’s ambivalent, like the artist’s work; it’s the symbol of life, blazing bright and
exhilarating; but then it can become somber and a symbol of death when almost sanguine. The colour
of fire and blood, red represents brilliance, power, a sign of life. Paradoxically, it is a characteristic of Mars,
the Roman god of war. And thus, the colour red becomes one representing masculinity; burning and
violent. The colour red provides a link between masculine and feminine; it is the sometimes tumultuous
relationship between these two that are at the centre of the artist’s research. For her, red is a strong
and feminine colour which is associated with the body, love, blood, life.
Muriel Décaillet’s work reflects the emotional conflicts and the complexity of the feminine world. The title
of the exhibition “Anima” hints at the feminine side of man. Woman has been inseparable in substance
from man since time began. Eve is at the centre of « Eve et les trois Parques » (literally “Eve and the three
Fates”) in which two mythological stories clash. The Fates are the personifications of destiny who spin
and slice the thread of life into the fate of men. An apple refers to Eve and represents the ball of thread;
the red woven thread links the Fates to Eve symbolising the course of life, which can be interrupted by
destiny, as decided by Atropos, the Fate who chooses the mechanism of death, ending life by cutting
the thread. It was Muriel’s diploma in fashion design which led to her using a thread as a means
of linking her work. Working with this material is one of her passions. It allows one to create volume,
structure; it’s rich in sensations and interpretations. In « Ô Toison ! », the red thread becomes a woven
fleece shielding the face of stereotyped and trampled women. The woman described by Muriel Décaillet
is a long way from finding the Golden Fleece!
To chase away the evil spirits, Muriel Décaillet adopts female mythological figures who conceal deep,
hidden truths. In each of the myths, the quest is a fundamental concept which allows the heroine to
make up for something missing in her life. The red thread helps the artist to find her way through difficult
times. In the artwork “Fractures”, one of the 31 canvases making up this personal chronology refers to
the origins of the world, the painting by Gustave Courbet, except in Muriel’s painting the woman gives
birth to a deer, an animal that appears repeatedly in her work. Deer, because of their huge antlers which
are periodically renewed, are often compared to the tree of life and symbolise fertility. The deer is also
the animal dedicated to Diane, the Roman goddess of hunting. In this way, Muriel Décaillet plays with
the anima and the animus, the masculine side of woman. The deer thus appears as a symbol of speed
and sexual energy; in her work, sometimes the deer are mating, or fighting or are alone. And so, it is
then up to us individually to relate the works to our own personal experiences in life. From this point,
the red thread tied to this tale by the artist, allows each of us to make our own interpretation.
The ball of woven thread is the baton that is passed on to us by the artist; in this way we can continue
her or our own life stories...
Muriel Décaillet was born in 1976 in Geneva where she is currently living and working. In 1999,
she obtained her diploma in fashion design from the Haute Ecole d’Art et de Design (HEAD) in Geneva.
At the end of her studies, she won a distinction for the Fond cantonal de décoration et d’art visuel de
Genève prize; subsequently she was offered a studio in the Maison des Arts du Grütli in Geneva. In 2008,
she received a grant to support her artistic projects.
GALERIE D’( A ) JACQUELINE BETTINELLI AVENUE DU LÉMAN 20 CH-1005 LAUSANNE SWITZERLAND
T. + 41 21 311 35 01 F. + 41 21 312 23 80 www.galerie-d-a.com [email protected] No. Fed. ch-550-1058887-3
MURIEL DÉCAILLET
Born in 1976 in Geneva. Lives and works in Geneva, Switzerland (CH).
EDUCATION
2001-03 HEAD, Geneva, Switzerland; certificat d’études postgrades CCC
1996-99 HEAD, Geneva, Switzerland; diploma of fashion design
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2013
Galerie d’(A), Lausanne - CH
2010
Anima, Galerie d’(A), Lausanne - CH
Never Ending part.II, Futur antérieur - HUG - Maternity unit, Geneva - CH;
Hurlement, installation for Cologny roundabout, Geneva - CH
2009
NeverEnding, Espace Libre (Centre PasquArt), Bienne - CH
En veille, www.mouseum.ch
2008
BANG BANG, Art-en-île, Halle Nord, Geneva - CH
2005
Jardin sous vide, Villa Bernasconi, Geneva - CH
2004
Au verso, Galerie Krisal, Geneva - CH
2003
L’ Attente, Galerie Piano Nobile, Geneva - CH
2002
Dévernissage, Maison des Arts du Grütli, Geneva - CH
SELECTED GROUP EXHITIBITIONS
2011
She views herself, Galerie Sator, Paris 3rd - France. Curator : Doris Kloster
2011
Incipit, Galerie Sator, Paris 3rd - France
Rathania’s - ars similis casus, Musée Rath, Geneva - CH
Knitting Dolls (in Geneva), Forum de Meyrin, Geneva, Switzerland;
GHP Art Fair, Galerie GHP, Toulouse - France
2010
Féminités, Ferme de la Chapelle, Ville de Lancy, Geneva - CH
Drawings, Art en île, Halle Nord, Genève - CH
Hello Lilith !, Espace GHP – Toulouse- France
2009
12 Hour Difference, 0Field Art Center, Beijing 798 Art District - China
Visions d’Hildegarde, La Distillerie, Triennale culturelle, Altitudes, Bulle - CH
2008
*L*O*G*O*, Espace Kugler, Geneva - CH
Der rote Faden, Galerie Luciano Fasciati, Chur - CH
2007
Festival Croisées d’artistes, Saint-Denis, Paris/Ile-de-France - France
Emotion, Galerie GHP, Toulouse - France
Jardin Botanique, Fête du développement durable, Geneva - CH
Galerie Krisal, Geneva - CH
2005
Festival Les Urbaines, Galerie Circuit, Lausanne - CH
Découvrir – Redécouvrir, Musée Rath, Geneva - CH
2004
Particules accélérées, Forum de Meyrin, Geneva - CH
Vivre sa vie, Centre d’Art en l’Ile, Geneva - CH
Cabinet de curiosités, Galerie Piano Nobile, Geneva - CH
Bruit, Galerie Sous-sol, ESBA, Geneva - CH
2003
Lampes d’eau(x), Nuit de la science, Geneva, - CH
Usée, M va au CCC, Installation, Galerie Sous-sol, ESBA, Geneva - CH
24h de la photographie, Maison des Arts du Grütli, Geneva - CH
Aquarium, installation, La Bâtie Festival, Geneva - CH
2001
Vingt et un Moi et un éléphanteau, Bourses Berthoud, Lissignol-Chevalier,
Centre d’Art Contemporain (CAC), Geneva - CH
2000
Mudac, museum opening, Lausanne - CH
1999
Langenthal’s Design Center, Bern - CH
PRIZES AND GRANTS
2008-09 Grant : Bourse d’aide à la création 08-09, DAC Ville de Genève - CH
2001-02 Art studio attribution - Maison des Arts du Grütli, DAC Ville de Genève - CH
1999
Distinction prize : Fond cantonal de décoration et d’art visuel, Geneva - CH
1st Prize diploma of fashion designer : Bon Génie-Grieder les boutiques, Geneva - CH
THEATRE, ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN, FASHION & MUSIC
2011
Scenography: S.C.U.M. Attitude, Cie Mercure, T/50, Geneva, CH,
2010
Scenography: Comment élever un ado d’appartement ? Directed by Evelyne Knecht,
Théâtre des Terreaux, Lausanne - CH
2009
Scenography, accessories and costumes: Marie Coquelicot, by Pascal Rebetez,
directed by Pierre Miserez, concept and game : Isabelle Maurice, Théâtre Saint-Gervais, Geneva - CH;
2008
BANG BANG’s installation, collaboration with the duo Gina & Tony, Artenîle, Geneva - CH;
BANG BANG : repeat of My baby Shot Me Down by Nancy Sinatra; Soundtrack duration approx.40 min
2007
Installation and visuals: K.O.L.O’s concert, Létage, Geneva - CH;
2004-06 La Cie de Rues, collaboration with Carlos Lopez, architect-designer, Geneva - CH
2003
Production: vidéo clip Granny, Polar album Somatic, artistic director and director: Andrea Giuseppe Corciulo;
2000
Costumes: La Bâtie Festival, Geneva - Paysage vertical, Vertical Danse - Cie Noemi Lapzeson, Geneva - CH
GALERIE D’( A ) JACQUELINE BETTINELLI AVENUE DU LÉMAN 20 CH-1005 LAUSANNE SWITZERLAND
T. + 41 21 311 35 01 F. + 41 21 312 23 80 www.galerie-d-a.com [email protected] No. Fed. ch-550-1058887-3