PRESS RELEASE
OPENART is pleased to present:
Inner Room with a View
Online Group Exhibition
Curated by Marion Lamy
February 28 – June 30, 2021
Artists:
NAMGOONG Whan | Mickaël Doucet | Philippe Calandre
“It is mine—the little chamber,
Mine alone.
I had it from my forbears
Years agone.
Yet within its walls I see
A most motley company,
And they one and all claim me
As their own.”
– SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
Individuals are currently facing unprecedented times with new challenges that are disrupting our way of life. As we weather the storm collectively through this global crisis; privately, we are developing our consciousness in order to define a new paradigm, what some would call the “world that comes after”.
"The Inner Room" is a poem by Arthur Conan Doyle first published in his 1898 poetry collection, Songs of Action. Conan Doyle is famously known as the creator of the character Sherlock Holmes, the scientific detective but few know of his attraction to psychic studies, spiritualism or paranormal activities. This poem evokes the soul of a person permanently in tension with his own different personalities. Each one never prevailing over the others.
This room references a place where the being is shaped and moulded, where multiple personalities present in oneself are defined in relation to the world. Expanding on this notion, the little chamber can be seen as the first place of creation and projection of the self. The intense inner activity that takes place in this environment has the ability to nurture the soul, making the man or the woman richer. Unfortunately, in our contemporary society where our leitmotiv is about “moving faster and further,” we often forget to cultivate our inner selves and therefore strive to find creative solutions to issues that may arise.
Inner Room with a View presented by OPENART features artworks created between 2017 and 2020 by three artists based in France, NAMGOONG Whan, Mickaël Doucet and Philippe Calandre. All three artists utilise different mediums to express and depict the vast and rich depths of one’s inner identity. This timely and poetic exhibition invites the viewers to engage with the meditative works that combine realism, illusion, abstraction, and explores the space between one’s inner tribulations including physical, intellectual and spiritual with the external world. An open border between the impalpable and the tangible and connects the past and the future in an effort to understand and restore one’s inner self.
This exhibit aims to provide the viewers solace from our daily lives, and also serves as a reminder to become more self-aware and strive to understand who we really are, what we are creating, and how we envision our future.
Curatorial theme edited by Christine Lee
ARTISTS
NAMGOONG Whan was born in 1975 in Seoul, South Korea and he currently lives and works in Paris. Select solo presentation of his work at international galleries and institutions include FIAC, Paris (2019), Lee Bauwens Gallery, Brussels (2013, 2018), Harold WILMOTTE, Paris (2017), Korean Cultural Center in Brussels (2015), Espace Epikourou, Laura Koufopandelis. Athénes (2014), Galerie LAVIGNES-BATILLE & Harold WILMOTTE, Paris (2013), Galerie Jean Brolly. Paris (2008, 2009, 2011), Galerie Jinsun, Seoul (2010), Andy's Gallery. Seoul (2009), I M Art Gallery, Seoul (2008), Sungnam Art Center, Seongnam, South Korea (2007), Namsong Art Museum, Gapyoung, South Korea (2006), Gallery Wooduck and Kimhyounjoo Gallery in Seoul (2006), Seoho Art Museum, Yangpyoung, South Korea (2005) and Kumho Art Gallery, Seoul (2005), Insa Art Center, Seoul (2004), Gallery FORUM Germany (2004), Space Prevert Saviny le Temple, France (2003), Palais des etude E.N.S.B.A Paris (2002)
Mickaël Doucet was born in Blois, France in 1974 and lives and works in Paris. His work has been the subject of numerous solo exhibitions at international galleries and art fair including CRAG Gallery, Turin, Italy (2020), Galerie Charron (2019), L’ime Art Gallery (2019), Galerie Mondapart (2016), Galerie Michele Sauvalle (2009), in Paris and Galerie JDC (2011) in Saint-Leu-La Foret, and in Wuhan and Hangzhou, China (2018), as well as at The Solo Project, Galerie Charron, Basel Switzerland (2015). Doucet has also been included in notable group exhibitions at Marion Guggenheim, Samuel Landee, Paris (2020), Art Karlsruhe, Germany (2019), Art Bondensee, Austria (2018), Art Elysees, Paris (2017) and Kunst 16 Zurich (2016), Kunst 15 Zurich (2015) with Galerie Charron, Biennale Arcipelago Mediterraneo at Zisa, Zona Arti Contemporanee (2017) and Foundation Luciano Benetton, Palermo, Italy (2017)
Philippe Calandre was born in 1964 in Avignon, France. He is a French photographer and designer who lives and works in Paris. Select solo exhibitions of Calandre’s work at international galleries and institutions include Photo Brussels Festival, Brussels (2018), Galerie Vrais Rêves, Lyon, France (2018), Kalinka, Art Gallery, Pondichery, India (2018), Galerie Goutal, Aix en Provence, France (2017), Espace Valles Centre d’Art Contemporain, Saint Martin d’Hères, France (2016), Andata Ritorno Laboratoire d’Art Contemporain, Genève, Suisse (2015), Espace Richaud, Versailles, France (2015), Wilmotte Gallery at Lichfield Studios, London, England (2015), Wilmotte Foundation, Venice, Italy (2015), Galerie Andata Ritorno, Geneva, Switzerland (2014), Galerie Esther Woerdehoff, Paris, France (2012), Art Center Kao-Un University, Taïwan (2007), Kio-A-Thau Art Center, Taïwan (2007), Art District, Pear2, Kaoshiung, Taiwan (2005, 2006), Galerie Anne Barrault, Paris, France (2000, 2001)
OPENART Advisory + Projects
Driven by our passion for art and culture, we provide a dynamic and immersive journey into the international art world for our collectors in their discovery to finding artists and artworks for acquisition. Working together, we aim to build collections in line with our collectors values and mission that engage and inspire the viewers on a daily basis. ~OPENART
OPENART is an international art advisory with a collaborative team of fine art consultants and experts located in global art capitals including New York, London, Paris and Seoul. We curate relevant transcultural modern & contemporary art exhibitions with emerging and established artists and curators from around the world.
We work on all aspects of the collecting process including research, identifying and accessing artworks, negotiating acquisitions, deaccessions and collection management. Our collective experience encompasses art and culture consultation, curation, research, market analysis, passion assets management and investment and art project management to framing and final installation for private collectors, and residential, hospitality and corporate clients by sourcing and commissioning fine art, emerging, mid-career to blue chip, from around the world, in partnerships with international galleries, auction houses, private collectors and institutions.
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Images courtesy of the artists.