Basquiat & the red truck

The gallery's
opinion

WE LIKE THE APPROACH

“Basquiat & the red truck” belongs to the “Room portraits” series. In his drawings, Damien Nicolas Roux imagines superb interiors decorated around a prestigious artist’s work. To stage the reproduced painting, he inserts iconic furniture, lighting 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 works 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 so is the artist, since he plays at hiding his signature (DNR) in his drawing, can 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 coloured paper mat in one of the colours 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

“Basquiat & the red truck” reproduces a 1984 acrylic painting on canvas “Pez dispenser” by this avant-garde painter and pioneer of the Underground movement. In Damien Nicolas Roux’s composition, the painting hangs above a Thonet bistro chair. It fits in wonderfully with Charlotte Perriand’s Mexico bookcase, on which a pair of candleholders by Alberto Giacometti is displayed.

AND MORE

We also like Damien Nicolas Roux’s humour: this little hand looking for the toy brings a bit of fantasy to this perfect setting.

Photo credit: Damien Nicolas Roux and Galerie Maison Dauphine.