Based in Paris, visual artist Clovis Retif studied design at the Saint-Luc academy in Brussels before working for two years in global design in the French capital. Retif then moved to Canada, where he dedicated himself fully to drawing. In 2018, he was invited by Galerie Luz in Montreal to present his first solo series of drawings, Solitude Contemporaine, an exhibition that marked the beginning of his artistic career. The following year, Clovis returned to Paris, where he continued to participate in group exhibitions and held a second solo exhibition, entitled Série-hors-série, where he presented accumulations of objects and trash found on the street. In 2020, he moved to Brussels and continued to explore different mediums, participating in about ten exhibitions. Two years on, Retif once again returned to Paris where his work took a significant turn with the introduction of colour and a more instinctive and personal approach to drawing, particularly blending painting and pastels.
The artist quickly expanded his technique to new mediums, such as hand-drawn vintage clothing, enamelled pottery, furniture, and murals. In his upcoming solo show which will be held on Oct 3-5 at Galerie Au Roi in Paris, entitled Terra Mater, Retif presents his universe through a journey in three stages: the house, the gallery, and the studio. He presents an eclectic selection of works ranging from drawing to pottery, including design, tableware, and paintings. The first room offers an intimate and personal scenography. A bookshelf displays various creations by the artist, from plates to balloons, including a chess set and a lamp. At the centre of the room, a large dining table is set, where tableware becomes a living installation. Mind you, every piece on this table has been handcrafted by Retif for two dinners organised during the exhibition. The artist collaborated with chef Camille Barbas, and together they created dishes that harmonise with the shapes, colours, and flavours emanating from the exhibition.
In the second room, the walls are adorned with four large charcoal drawings, each 2.30 metres long, accompanied by four medium-sized pieces. At the centre of the space, a dozen drapes and curtains, painted on different fabrics and papers, hang from the ceiling. These installations play with transparency and movement, giving the scene a light and mysterious ambiance. The third room invites visitors into a recreation of the artist’s studio. On a nine-metre-long wall Retif’s archives and sources of inspiration are revealed, scattered with sketches and preparatory drawings. Chairs designed by the artist and enamelled vases created in collaboration with Poterie Ravel complete this immersion into his creative process. Adding an element of French savoir-vivre, is a bar will be run by the Experimental Cocktail Club, with which Retif has created a cocktail menu resonating with the colours and flavours that echo the exhibition. © superfuture
Galerie au Roi
75 rue de la Fontaine au Roi
75011 Paris
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