The "new surrealism"

   

"True creativity does not concern itself

with its place in the sphere of art.

For me, creating a bottle inspires a narration,

theatrics.

But Damien creates a new form of reality.

No stories are told, it is up to us to invent them and live them:

Aborigine Men

Textile Women,

made of clay, of stone, of fire.

Dreams of operatic grasslands,

a Sistine on the scale of nature.

(...) Damien can write entire novels on faces.

A present from the past.

He erases the imperfections of the subjective.

He stones roll,

faces made of clay.

But why has God not done it?

Style, fashion, makeup artist,

no: ARTIST!"

   

SERGE MANSAU

Festive visions

   

"(...) "I let my hands do the speaking", explains

Damien Dufresne. He creates a presence,

one that is adorned with feathers, sequins,

caked-up material, or a veil of pigment, using lines

or striation, crusts, bark, fire, or ice  - all the "spots

that appear on the human retina" of which

Baudelaire spoke so evocatively. (...) Damien

Dufresne's work occupies a privileged place

between romanticism and fantasy. Gifted with

enormous sensitivity, this visionary artist captures

the essence of intimacy: before one can paint and

work directly on another person's body, one has

to establish a relationship of complete trust with

the model, a mutual feeling of understanding.

Alongside the acknowledged language of aesthetics,

this artist has created a new, bold and sensitive

language, one that is disconcerting and heady like

a rare perfume  - a language of feelings that

encompasses joy, sorrow, euphoria, silence, and action."

   

MICHEL BOHBOT,

COMTEMPORARY ART EXPERT