Josef Albers &

The gallery's
opinion

WE LIKE THE APPROACH

The drawing “Josef Albers & the Grey Cat”belongs to the series “Room portraits”. In his works, Damien Nicolas Roux imagines sublime interiors decorated around a prestigious work. To stage the reproduced canvas, he inserts iconic furniture and lighting fixtures and collectors’ items. His freedom as a facetious artist sometimes leads him to construct a second mise en abyme. Thus he slips one of his own creations into this imaginary interior. Indeed, Damien Nicolas Roux is also a plastic artist and creates obelisks and pyramids in cardboard and brass. They fit perfectly into the decor. The work is in the work, but the artist too, since he plays to hide his signature (DNR) in his drawing, do you see it? Finally he never forgets to add a little life in the form of a human or animal presence.

Each drawing is accompanied by a colored paper mat in one of the colors recommended by the artist. A work with surprising and accomplished techniques, which mixes references to painting, architecture and decorative arts.

WE LOVE TO KNOW MORE

“Josef Albers & the Grey Cat” reproduces a 1950s painting from the series “Homage to the Square” by this pioneer of modernism. In Damien Nicolas Roux’s composition, the painting hangs above a blackened wood console from the Empire period, and is framed by a pair of “Ombre” sconces from the architectural firm Gilles & Boissier.

AND MORE

We also like the humor of Damien Nicolas Roux: but what is this sly-eyed tomcat doing near such priceless pieces? This is the question Manuel Crépon answers. He signs 12 narrative texts to accompany each drawing of the series. The printed booklet with all the texts and drawings will be included free of charge with the delivery.

Photo credit: Damien Nicolas Roux and Galerie Maison Dauphine.