TITLE_NAME :
09/04/2025 - 10/04/2025
Ruttkowski;68
François Halard (b. 1961 in Paris, FR) presents his second solo exhibition, Conversation with Claude, with Ruttkowski; 68 in New York. This series of 26 unique, hand-painted, and enlarged Polaroid photographs, taken during Halard's visits to Claude Monet's iconic garden in Giverny, France, unveils a rich tapestry of encounters with Monet's art, his perspectives, and profound obsessions. They reflect Halard's intimate dialogue with the artist, offering a visual journey into the depth of his artistic vision.
"I've gone back to doing things that are impossible to do: water with grass undulating at the bottom... It's admirable to see, but it's crazy to do that... Well, I am still tackling those things." — Claude Monet.
Through these visits, Halard delved into Monet's deep connection to Japanese art. Intrigued by the water lilies, their fleeting reflections, and the subtle distortions in the water, he recaptured the allure of water and the transience of its reflections, as already explored by 19th-century Japanese artists like Hokusai and Hiroshige. Between the deep blues of the water and the pale purity of the reflecting sky, Halard added paint where colorful nuances of the depicted vibrancy seemed missing. As if in conversations with his motives, Halard transforms the experience of Monet's Garden into a deeply personal exploration of the contemporary significance of Monet's legacy, providing once again a delicate balance between past and present.
Ruttkowski;68
François Halard (b. 1961 in Paris, FR) presents his second solo exhibition, Conversation with Claude, with Ruttkowski; 68 in New York. This series of 26 unique, hand-painted, and enlarged Polaroid photographs, taken during Halard's visits to Claude Monet's iconic garden in Giverny, France, unveils a rich tapestry of encounters with Monet's art, his perspectives, and profound obsessions. They reflect Halard's intimate dialogue with the artist, offering a visual journey into the depth of his artistic vision.
"I've gone back to doing things that are impossible to do: water with grass undulating at the bottom... It's admirable to see, but it's crazy to do that... Well, I am still tackling those things." — Claude Monet.
Through these visits, Halard delved into Monet's deep connection to Japanese art. Intrigued by the water lilies, their fleeting reflections, and the subtle distortions in the water, he recaptured the allure of water and the transience of its reflections, as already explored by 19th-century Japanese artists like Hokusai and Hiroshige. Between the deep blues of the water and the pale purity of the reflecting sky, Halard added paint where colorful nuances of the depicted vibrancy seemed missing. As if in conversations with his motives, Halard transforms the experience of Monet's Garden into a deeply personal exploration of the contemporary significance of Monet's legacy, providing once again a delicate balance between past and present.