Ceysson & Bénétière

 

Ceysson & Bénétière is honored to present a groundbreaking solo exhibition of works by Dorothea Rockburne, a leading figure in American contemporary art since the 1960s. Conceived in close collaboration with the artist's New York studio, this presentation brings together recent works in a breadth of materials, testifying to the artist's versatility and singular dialogue between mathematics and spirituality.

In our Parisian space, visitors are invited to explore three major series that illustrate the breadth of Rockburne's artistic reflection.

The Trefoil series is born of the artist's interest in knot theory, first discovered in the 1950s at Black Mountain College. “When I discovered knot theory, I fell in love with it”, she confides. This branch of mathematics studies closed curves that intertwine in three-dimensional space without intersecting.

Since 1977, mathematics has been the structure of Rockburne’s work, translating abstract concepts into rigorously harmonious visual compositions. These works combine rectangular boards and copper wire arranged in concentric circles to create harmonious geometric structures of bold colorimetry.

Since her New York debut in 1954, Rockburne has also drawn deep inspiration from Giotto's frescoes in Padua's Arena Chapel. “These paintings, which I then knew only from books, served as a beacon of emotional truth and pictorial courage”, she explains. In the Blue Collages series, this influence shines through in compositions imbued with a sacred atmosphere, evoking the cosmos and the characteristic blue of the chapel.

Finally, in the work Reflections, Rockburne pays particular attention to everyday objects as bearers of a “comforting presence, a warm voice, heralding and reassuring”. In its own way, the bentwood chair evokes the theory of knots and becomes the central element of this composition, transforming the ordinary into a space for visual meditation.

The fruit of a unique transatlantic collaboration marked by the artist's direct involvement, this exhibition celebrates Dorothea Rockburne's ability to build bridges between science, art, and spirituality.

 

Artist : Dorothea Rockburne

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Visitor Information

Ceysson & Bénétière
23 rue du Renard
75004 Paris

Gallery hours:
Tuesday - Saturday
11am - 7pm
T: + 33 1 42 77 08 22