Don’t miss these incredible works by French artists at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2023 is almost over! You’ve got until this Sunday to explore the awe-inspiring creations, but after that, it’ll be too late. Among the remarkable artists on display, two French talents have left an indelible mark with their thought-provoking and visually captivating works. Read on as we take a closer look at the 2 French artists whose works you shouldn’t miss before this iconic free outdoor sculpture exhibition concludes.

Sculpture by the Sea Bondi 2023
Norton Flavel (Perth, WA) Monument II

Océane Jacob: A Tribute to the Mighty (Great White Shark)

Océane Jacob, a gifted artist hailing from France and Hong Kong, has presented a truly magnificent sculpture titled “A Tribute to the Mighty (Great White Shark)” This monumental piece, measuring 400 x 400 x 150 cm, is a tribute to the awe-inspiring great white shark. Crafted from stainless steel and recycled Australian fishing nets, the sculpture goes beyond its grandeur to deliver a profound message.

Sculpture by the Sea Bondi 2023
Image: Charlotte Curd

Jacob’s creation serves as a powerful reminder of the great white shark’s importance in our oceans and the vulnerability of this species. By using recycled materials, she underscores the interlaced relationship between these majestic creatures and their environment.

 

A Tribute to the Mighty (Great White Shark) is not only an artistic masterpiece but a call to action for marine conservation. Don’t miss the chance to witness the blend of artistry and environmental awareness that Océane Jacob brings to Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi.

 

Christine Madiès: Escaping Gravity

Christine Madiès, another remarkable French artist, has left an indelible mark with her work, “Escaping Gravity.” This sculpture, measuring 120 x 83 x 48 cm, is a testament to the transformative power of art. Crafted from statuario Carrara marble and black granite, it defies gravity and captures the essence of fluidity and light.

Sculpture by the Sea Bondi 2023 Christine Madies Escaping Gravity
Image: Charlotte Curd

 

Madiès’ work takes you on a visual journey, from the rough and dark to the fluid and light, showcasing her extraordinary talent in working with stone. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the ethereal nature of her art and experience the captivating allure of Escaping Gravity.

 

Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2023 concludes this Sunday, so make sure not to miss the chance to view these incredible works by Océane Jacob and Christine Madiès, among hundreds of other works. Their artistry and messages will leave you inspired and in awe of the boundless possibilities that sculpture can offer. Hurry to Bondi Beach to experience these masterpieces and bid farewell to this year’s exhibition.

 

KEY INFO FOR SCULPTURE BY THE SEA, BONDI 2023

WHAT: Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2023

WHEN: 20 October – 6 November 2023

WHERE: Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk, Sydney, Australia

HOW: No bookings required. Just go!

HOW MUCH: FREE!

For more events with links to France and the Francophonie, check out our What’s on in November article.

 

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Less than 4 weeks remain to see Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera: Love & Revolution at the Art Gallery of South Australia

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Exclusive to Adelaide and the Art Gallery of South Australia is the stunning, vivid Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera: Love & Revolution exhibition which is on until 17 September. While you may think there are no French links between Frida Kahlo and France or the Francophonie, there are several. For example, it was one of Frida’s self-portraits that was the first work by a 20th century artist to be added to the Louvre’s collection in Paris.

Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera: Love & Revolution
Frida Kahlo, born Mexico City 1907, died Mexico City 1954, Diego on my mind (Self-portrait as Tehuana), 1943, Coyoacan, Mexico, oil on board, 76 x 61 cm; The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of 20th Century Mexican Art and the Vergel Foundation

Frida Kahlo’s first exhibition of paintings was arranged by French surrealist poet Andre Breton in New York in 1938. Kahlo exhibited in France in 1939, a long time before an exhibition of her works in her home country of Mexico, which didn’t occur until 1953, a year before her death aged 47.

 

The works that make up the Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera: Love & Revolution exhibition come from the impressive collection of Mexican modernism held by Jacques and Natasha Gelman. Jacques Gelman may be a name you’re familiar with as he was a still photographer in film studios in France before later moving to Mexico, initially as a distributor of French films. The Gelmans were not just collectors of art but were friends with the artists they bought from. When Frida was short of money and offered to sell her jewels, the Gelmans instead wanted to buy her art. Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera: Love & Revolution celebrates not only the love between Kahlo and Rivera but also the love of art patronage itself. As it is stated in the exhibition book, it is “a reminder of the importance of collectors and collecting to the history and tradition of great art and artists”.

installation view: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, featuring Ángel Zarraga’s Portrait of Jacques Gelman and Diego Rivera’s Portrait of Natasha Gelman, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed
installation view: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, featuring Ángel Zarraga’s Portrait of Jacques Gelman and Diego Rivera’s Portrait of Natasha Gelman, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed

 

While Frida Kahlo’s most well-known works are undoubtedly her self-portraits, the Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera: Love & Revolution exhibition also showcases portraits of the very people responsible for bringing the collection to the world – Jacques and Natasha Gelman – as painted by Frida Kaho and Diego Rivera.

 

As is the case for many artists, Frida Kahlo did not truly know success in her lifetime and it is in the most recent decades that she has become an icon. In their lifetimes, it was Diego Rivera who was the world-renowned artist, while Frida Kahlo was virtually unrecognised. That has since changed. A survey conducted across 199 countries in 2020 found that Frida Kahlo was the second most googled artist, was the most googled artist in 29 countries and was one of only two female artists in the top 100 google searches.

Frida Kahlo, born Mexico City 1907, died Mexico City 1954, Self-portrait with red and gold dress, 1941, Coyoacan, Mexico, oil on canvas, 39.0 x 27.5 cm; The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of 20th Century Mexican Art and the Vergel Foundation
Frida Kahlo, born Mexico City 1907, died Mexico City 1954, Self-portrait with red and gold dress, 1941, Coyoacan, Mexico, oil on canvas, 39.0 x 27.5 cm; The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of 20th Century Mexican Art and the Vergel Foundation

The Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera: Love & Revolution exhibition marks the first time Frida’s works have been exhibited at the Art Gallery of South Australia since the 1990 exhibition entitled The art of Frida Kahlo. The exhibition is comprised of about 150 works from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman collection. 33 works from that same collection were exhibited in the Art Gallery of New South Wales 2016 exhibition Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection. It is therefore quite a feat for the Art Gallery of South Australia to be dispalying such a significant number of works in the current exhibition.

 

The entrance to the exhibition is via a wall painted highly saturated, attention-grabbing blue with the words “Frida y Diego viveron en esta casa 1929-1954”. It is a reproduction of an external wall of the house, in which they lived together for a period of time and in which Frida grew up and ultimately passed away. It is a grounding reminder that the exhibition celebrates the works of not just Frida but also Diego, and that the love referred to in its name, which while troubled, was shared by the couple. The bright colours continue throughout the exhibition. Special mention must also be made of Grieve Gillett Architects, who were responsible for the exhibition design. The set-up of the exhibition is a work of art itself, with very Instagram-able colourful walls and delightful angles to capture the works from.

installation view: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed
installation view: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed

As you may know from Kahlo’s works that have been reproduced on all sorts of merchandise now that “Fridamania” lives on, she often painted herself without embellishing her appearance. In Self-portrait with braid, 1941, Frida paints herself with a shaved head and her signature braid perched on top. She had cut off the braids that Rivera Diego so admired when he had an affair with her sister, Cristina.

 

Kahlo used her art to show the pain and trauma of one of her many miscarriages. As stated in the exhibition book, “Kahlo’s raw and unfiltered painting style reminds us of our flawed humanity; she is a woman who has experienced great pain and loss but she is not simply defined by it”. Kahlo did not allow her disabilities caused by polio and the bus accident to affect her identity or to stop her living her life the way she wanted to. While some speculate that she took on traditional Oaxaca clothing to hide her misshapen leg, after her death, photographs found in the bathroom of Casa Azul depict Kahlo’s maternal ancestors wearing the same traditional style of clothing. She attended her final exhibition on a stretcher.

installation view: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed
installation view: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed

Rivera Diego was first and foremost a muralist and the exhibition sees the recreation of one of his large murals depicting many important figures from Mexican life and culture. The then Minister of education, Jose Vasconcelos, commissioned Mexican artists to create murals across the city of Mexico. The intent was to use them as a way of teaching the people of Mexico, in particular those who hadn’t been able to access education, and who often were illiterate. Muralism is a key component of the Mexican art scene and Diego was one of the three main muralists given the commissions.  Unlike most public commissions though, the artists had freedom to paint whatever and however they wished to.

 

Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution from The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of Mexican Modernism is an unrivalled opportunity to uncover the artistic and cultural history of Mexico and encounter the remarkable collectors, Jacques and Natasha Gelman. It is a celebration of the artistic legacy of Frida and Diego and a reminder of the vibrant art community in Mexico. It is rare to have an exhibition of such a scale and importance in Australia, let alone South Australia and we highly recommend you attend before it closes in less than 4 weeks.

Diego Rivera, born Guanajuanto City, Mexico 1886, died Mexico City 1957, Sunflowers, 1943, Mexico City, oil on canvas, 90 x 130 cm; The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of 20th Century Mexican Art and the Vergel Foundation
Diego Rivera, born Guanajuanto City, Mexico 1886, died Mexico City 1957, Sunflowers, 1943, Mexico City, oil on canvas, 90 x 130 cm; The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of 20th Century Mexican Art and the Vergel Foundation

KEY INFO FOR FRIDA & DIEGO: LOVE & REVOLUTION

WHAT: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution from The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection of Mexican Modernism

WHEN: 24 Jun – 17 Sep 2023

AGSA opening hours:

  • 10am to 5pm daily
  • 10am – 9pm on the first Friday of each month (1 September)

Admission to the exhibition closes 30 minutes before AGSA closes.

WHERE: Art Gallery of South Australia: Galleries 22, 23, 25

HOW: Purchase your tickets via this link (tickets are not dated or timed so allow one entry into the exhibition on any date it’s showing)

HOW MUCH: Ticket prices are as follows:

  • Adult $28.00
  • Concession $25.00
  • Member $20.00
  • Under 18 $12.00
  • Child (Age 0-4) FREE
  • Family (2 Adults + max 3 Children under 18) $66.00
  • Group of 8+ (purchase 1 ticket per person) $21.00
  • Seniors Card Wednesdays $25.00
  • AGSA Members Season Pass $55.00
  • Companion card FREE – this ticket can be obtained from the AGSA Ticket Desk
installation view: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed
installation view: Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed

For more events with links to France and the Francophonie happening in Australia this month, check out our What’s on in August article.