Diane Benoit de Re hypnotizes Espace Richaud

The “Hypnosis” exhibition promises a dream-like journey through the former Royal Hospital founded by Louis

Originally from Versailles, Benoit de Ré graduated from the Strasbourg School of Decorative Arts (HEAR). While working on collages during her studies, and painting backgrounds for her pictures, she discovered that she was most drawn to abstraction. Very quickly you see “big”. In Vitry-sur-Seine, she created a large-scale mural in the residence of Touraine, which earned her the annual painting prize of the Jean Collet Municipal Gallery in 2020. She also participated in a collaborative mural, made up of 800 painted tiles, on an art materials factory (Colart) in Le Mans in 2022.

The exhibition tour includes ten paintings and two installations. Hypnotic and serene, the paintings in the “CHROMA” series use soft luminosity, warm and cool colors, contrast and midtones. A feeling reminiscent of Rothko’s.

The Royal Chapel is the ideal setting for both facilities. In the center of the circular room, under the dome, a circular sand floor – which requires 400 kg of material – is covered with pigments in different shades of twilight. In the middle of this roof, a pure yellow dot is pierced, dripping from the frieze overlooking it, indicating the sun of the sky. Weather project (2003) by Olafur Eliasson, whose influence De Re claims.

A huge painted-on-fabric frieze covers the walls of the upper floor, mirroring the floor: 50 meters long under the dome, which dominates the sandy area of ​​the terrace. The scenography aims to be immersive through a sound “frieze” by François Delamarre, broadcast behind the tint in cool, orange tones.

The final series, “Irination,” concludes the artistic journey: a group of five canvases that take advantage of the luminosity of the large windows facing them, bathing the works in light at the right moment.