EXHIBITION “JEU DE DAME”

Irène Poetschke's first solo show, "Jeu de dame" took place from May 11 to 14, 2023 at the Atelier René in the 11th arrondissement of Paris.

During the exhibition, the artist submitted his paintings, resulting from his unconscious and his extravagant imagination, to the interpretation of the public.

The scene takes place in a cramped bathroom, with a checkered floor. On this checkers game board, blood has flowed, a shadow remains... Then we move into the shower, the high-angle framing of the young naked woman accentuates the oppressive effect of the scene whose decor is once again stained with blood, on the checkerboard floor, the sink, the tiles and the shower tray...

How can each of us interpret these images generated by the young artist's unconscious?
Irène Poetschke does not prefer to give clues but to let viewers take hold of her images. Thus, during the exhibition, she suggested to visitors to write a few lines of interpretation of the works on paper, to slip anonymously into a pot: each, according to their own history, their culture and their point of view was able to express his vision of the artist's work, like an interpretation of his dreams.

The exhibition was made up of around thirty works (oils, acrylics, pastels, charcoal, mixed media) arranged in a scenography reflecting the artist's universe and highlighting his paintings.

The first room was devoted to the Damier and Bathroom series and opened onto a bloody bathtub, enthroned in the middle of a checkerboard floor, behind which appeared the paintings Evidence and Prisoner . Two large mirrors completed the scene with the imposing square painting La présence de l’absence and the diptych De quel côté ? decorated with a clay bloodstain.

The second room, dedicated to the Visages series, began with the immense panel Sans visage measuring 2m10 by 2m70 composed of 100 faces made in dry pastel, before leading to the charcoals Seule and Seule(s) and 8 pastels to oil. The large oil painting La dame de la nuit and the abstract diptych La forêt completed this room, as well as smaller works such as Overthinker 1 and 2 , Bloodshot eyes 1 and 2 , Late night thought and Âmour and Alien .

Between the two rooms, we could also notice a burger made by the artist in clay and painted resin, placed in front of a large painting entitled Lutte quotidienne, with the impressive Estomac mental right next to it. A little further on, we could admire on an entire section of wall the series of large format oils with dominant green and pink colors and an enchanted atmosphere, such as En(f)ver.s de la dame or Enc(han)té . And just before going out, we did not fail to notice the large painting Le jeu de l’oie opposite the central pillar hosting smaller paintings such as L'œil , ((Dés)abusées 1 and 2 or La sagesse de la pieuvre .

In addition, 11 poetic texts were scattered throughout the rooms: they included the striking elements of the paintings (Checkerboard, Face, Tentacles, Shadow, Room and perspective, Blood, Knife, Hands, Door, Stomach and Bathroom), which allowed to have an idea of ​​what the artist wants to convey, without forgetting a play of lights and mirrors decorated with drops of blood in agile which completed everything.

In total, more than 350 visitors came to admire the works and the original scenography, with almost 200 guests present at the opening. The power of the works and the unique staging did not leave anyone indifferent.