Group exhibition –
SIBYLLES
in collaboration with Chapelle XIV
From 02 March to 13 April 2024
Opening Saturday 02 March, 16h - 20h
"The Sibyl, with frenzied mouth uttering things not to be laughed at, unadorned and unperfumed, yet reaches to a thousand years with her voice by the act of God". — Heraclitus, 500 BC
In the annals of antiquity, amidst the ancient tapestry of Greek lore, the 'Sibyl' emerges as a luminary, a beacon of prophetic wisdom veiled in mystique. Traceable back to the scholarly chronicles penned by the Greek geographer Pausanias in the 2nd century AD, the Sibyl remains an enigmatic figure. Pausanias's accounts, documenting local tradition, unveil a cadre of female oracles, their identities obscured by the shrines they devoutly served. Unlike their male counterparts, who tended to respond tangentially, Sibyls provided detailed and valuable answers when asked the right question.
“SIBYLLES” is a group exhibition housed concurrently between GALERIE CHLOE SALGADO and Chapelle XIV. Here, six visionary female artists converge, each wielding a distinct artistic lexicon informed by ancient mythos, which simultaneously forge bold new narratives for the modern era. Their creations, on display as contemporary relics, embody meticulous historical inquiry as well as the innovation and metamorphosis of traditional savoir-faire spanning tapestry weaving, ceramics, woodwork, fresco and wrought iron. These ornate artefacts, imbued with symbolic import, transcend mere aesthetics, inviting viewers into a realm where spirituality intertwines with functionality.
“SIBYLLES” is not an exhibition about sorcery, magic and or feminism in a dogmatic sense. Rather, it navigates the labyrinthine realms of hybridity and experimentalism, guided by the intuitive acumen inherent in the feminine spirit. Anchored by the collective visions of six female artists — Jenna Kaës, Elissa Lacoste, Charlotte Simonnet, Melissa Sinapan, Maïa Taïeb and Elvira Tiaou — the exhibition offers a kaleidoscopic array of mythological reinterpretations poised at the vanguard of cultural evolution. In an age increasingly ensconced within the digital ether, these handcrafted relics, much like those of the 19th century Arts and Crafts Movement, assume newfound significance, serving as conduits linking past, present, and future.
Echoing the Acrostic prophecies of the Sibyl, which were written on leaves and arranged so that the initial letters of the leaves always formed a word, the artistic opus showcased in “SIBYLLES” form a collective prophecy. Like fragments of a grand mosaic, these diverse interpretations coalesce through craft, experimental approaches, and the intuitive sensitivity unique to the female perspective. They weave this collective prophecy that spans the ages — a testament to the enduring power of art to offer visceral answers and foresight to the future.
Kristen de la Vallière
In collaboration with Chapelle XIV and featuring works by Jenna Kaës, Elissa Lacoste, Charlotte Simonnet, Melissa Sinapan, Maia Taïeb and Elvira Tiaou.