The work of Jean Labellie exhibited all over the village

The Artz association, with the complicity of Jeanne Labellie and with the association Les amis de Jean-Labellie, is devoting a temporary exhibition to the work of the painter Jean Labellie (1920 – 2021).

Major exhibitions had made it possible to discover his work, “Itinéraires” at the Palais des Congrès in Perpignan in 2001, “Jean Labellie, chemins de traverse” at the Martin-Vivès space in Prades in 2015, “Being and the essence ” to the Saint-Cyprien collections in 2018 and a major retrospective at the Minimes convent in Perpignan.

So it was quite normal to exhibit in Eus the three major periods of the artist’s work inspired by his adopted village.

The olive trees (1970-1990)

Seduced by the light and the landscapes of the Catalan country, Jean sets up his studio in Eus. From then on, and for about twenty years, the olive tree fascinated him. His wife, Jeanne, says:Early in the morning, he tied a piece of plywood on the roof of his car and after taking all the necessary equipment, went to Les Rougères. At first, he strove to represent the trunk of the tree with round shapes like those of ”The crowned olive tree” or ”The Christmas olive tree”, then the first inflorescences appeared without him really knowing why, he said” . Pépé Buscail, José Montessino’s grandfather, often came to see him in the workshop and gave him some simple advice in his own words. He spoke to him about the wind or the light in the olive tree and a real bond developed. was tied between the two men. Tramuntana in the olive tree (1990) or The sun in the olive tree (1980) are perhaps the echoes of these conversations. “And then one day, continues Joan, it’s a period of hollow, like the blank page for the writer: he despairs, but a happy coincidence will bring an answer to his questions. While we are witnessing the renewal of bistro tarpaulins in wine-colored or blue colors extinguished by the sun and the workers offer him to take them away, he sees there the ideal support for what he will represent from now on.“.

Carrers, paths of life (1990-1998)

From vegetal to mineral, the break is total. The painter will represent the cobblestones of the village, these cobblestones on which we climb each day, slowly, seeing in them only cobblestones surrounded by a large joint of cement… And faced with the dubious looks of some, he answers: “ It’s like that now, take it or leave it“. A little red, a few black streaks, an egg yolk, a lot of blue. He paints these paths of life on tarpaulins or sheets, they are made to move in the breeze, descend along the facades like banners.”Then begins a new period of doubt, says Joan, a period of depression which will give rise to a new pictorial expression“.

The Cosmogonies (2000-2015)

Jean embarks on a series of large canvases, often on tarpaulins or sheets. The work is more intimate, imbued with spirituality. Ellipses, crescents, rings, comets, constellations are a reminder of the different phases of his work and give access to multiple and liberated artistic universes, like a dive into the ether.

And Jeanne concludes thus:Every morning, Jean went down to his studio. Several days in a row, noticing that he no longer went there, I asked him the reason: “I said what I had to say”, he replied… He was 95 years old“.

Exhibition over two weekends, October 7, 8 and 9, then October 14, 15 and 16. Opening hours: Fridays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Sunday 9, a plaque offered by the Friends of Jean Labellie will be placed next to the olive tree which had been planted in homage to the painter. This will be followed by an aperitif offered by the municipality at the Maison du temps libre, at noon.

The work of Jean Labellie exhibited all over the village