Artist Claire Fahys paints intertwined worlds, spiritual journey, and captivating blend of art and design, dazzling in her solo exhibition, “Cosmos” in Paris. The exhibition is organized with A Women’s Art Association and installed within the design studio Hauvette & Madanai, in a celebration of female artists from now until February 21, 2025. ‘“Cosmos” is curated by Marion Guggenheim to feature a unique meld of oil paintings with Hauvette & Madani’s design collection to unveil a mesmerizing dialogue of natural landscapes and warm Parisian interiors.
Emerging from an introspective Gaston Bachelard quote reflecting on home as a sacred universe, Fahys captures the intimacy and memory of space. Her large-format frescoes play with contrasting colors to emphasize the interior and exterior worlds. The captivating size of her art allows viewers to be fully absorbed in her work. “The portraits of the artist’s close friends embody a dialogue between the world of the senses and that of the mind,” said Guggenheim. “Cosmos” ventures into the once banal domestic space we are familiar with, and transforms it into an imaginary, intimate world.
“The portraits of the artist’s close friends embody a dialogue between the world of the senses and that of the mind; they confront us with a profoundly introspective vision of the world.”
Marion Guggenheim
Paintings by Claire Fahys You Don’t Want To Miss
Installation view of “Claire Fahys: Cosmos,” photo by Luca Madani.
Accompanied by the texture of warm wood furniture, Nocturne III fits effortlessly with its surroundings to pull the viewer into its mystery. The painting portrays a neighbor with his back to his home. The use of diverse lighting brings the viewer on a journey throughout the piece. From the darkness of the room on the left to a blinding mysterious white light in the doorway on the right, Fahys brings us into her world of introspection. Hauvette & Madani add to the spiritual journey with mid-century modern decor. The viewer is interacting both with the interior world of the painting and the exterior environment it fills. The chair in the painting is seen facing the chair in the exhibit, breaking through to interact with the physical design.
Selfie features the artist taking her portrait in a strange reflection. Against her darkly shaded surroundings, she stands out illuminated, dreamily blurred, and out of focus. The viewer feels as though they are on the outside looking in, intrigued by her completely banal action of being on her phone. Fahys’ method of capturing light and textured techniques causes the viewer to reflect on the scene, transforming its familiarity into a serene journey. Breaking the bounds of the canvas, the painting itself serves as a reflection, appearing to be taking a photo of the viewer. The painting sits directly above a chair, between two large windows inviting its surroundings into its vast atmosphere.
Taking Inspiration from Rousseau
Installation view of “Claire Fahys: Cosmos,” photo by Luca Madani.
Installation view of “Claire Fahys: Cosmos,” photo by Luca Madani.
In Fahys’s piece From the Woods, the artist depicts a family house on a hill surrounded by forest. She creates a rooted bond between her memory, art, and family with this autobiographical landscape. “Fahys also borrows from the world of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, whose Reveries of the Solitary Walker had had a profound impact on her work over the years,” said Guggenheim. Pouring herself into these paintings, Fahys expands on the mystical memories landscape can provoke.
