“Art for Change”: the Art of the Future
The Radical Art of Paul-Yves Poumay
Written by Beth Jochim
“Art doesn’t need to be beautiful to be appreciated, it has to be universal.” — Paul-Yves Poumay
The Belgian artist Paul-Yves Poumay returns to Italy with the solo show “Art For Change” on May 8th at Spazio Arte Petrecca. The exhibition, which is under the patronage of the municipality of Iserna, is curated by Italian art historians Carmen D’Antonino and Martina Scavone.
Poumay has a background in finance and marketing, extensive work experience in banking and insurance, and a great passion for social issues. As an author he writes short essays that appear in Le Monde, L’Echo, and La Libre. In 2017 he founded the non-profit organization AWI Art World Institute Asbl, which aims to build a more sustainable and fairer world through art.
A multifaceted artist, he works with various mediums including photography, sculpture and painting. His work, provocative and optimistic, has an unconventional way of questioning life and sharply criticizes our obsessions as a society. Influenced by the movements of Primitivism and Neo-expressionism, which he reinterprets in a personal way, Poumay sees in art not only a means of communication or expression, but also a weapon to dismantle an economic and financial system close to collapse.
As an introduction to the show, curator Martina Scavone wrote that “ ‘Art for Change’ is the art of the future.” Indeed, it is not just the title of an exhibition, but the way of the artist to fight injustice and rebuild a better world through collaboration and shared values.
As Scavone explained, the first part of the exhibition focuses on capitalism and its failures, such as environmental destruction and corruption of the financial system. By creating a heavy, almost violent atmosphere, the artist shows the audience how it is necessary to detach oneself from a model that does not work. In the second part, instead, art rises to a vital breath, conveying feelings such as hope, love, and respect, and brings understanding and harmony among the animal kingdom, and the natural and human world.
“Poumay interprets art as a universal means which allows people to be connected with each other in time and space, promoting dialogue and introspection.” — Martina Scavone, curator and art historian.
Carmen D’Antonino, co-curator of the exhibition, instead emphasized how Poumay’s art manages to capture the human essence in brushstrokes that appear simple at first glance, but which actually denote a skillful technique and great balance of composition. The artist imprints coarse, rough signs on the canvas, often using vivid colors and reaching a surprising abstraction that denotes the urgent need to communicate. His working method recalls that of African and Afro-American traditions also adopted by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
“Paul-Yves Poumay is one of the most revolutionary artists of the 21st century who is able to use the therapeutic effect of art in order to improve the society where we live.” — Carmen D’Antonino, curator and art historian.
The simple gestures that characterize Poumay’s art find a correspondence in the use of primary colors and in an expressive spontaneity that reveals his unfiltered relationship with the world. Gennaro Petrecca, founder and director of the gallery hosting the exhibition, talks about this. Defining him as a man of other times, whose wisdom radiates into the present, the gallery owner recognizes various influences in Poumay’s art ranging from Alberto Burri to Keith Haring, from Art Brut to Maya and Aztec art.
Petrecca underlines how Poumay works in perfect balance between painting and sculpture. His art preserves great conceptual richness and interpretative variety that materializes in clots of color. His sign is intended to tell his story as a man, and to reveal his vision of art and life.
The exhibition, which is not to be missed, is set up in the beautiful setting of Spazio Arte Petrecca. The gallery was founded in 2015 at the behest of lawyer and gallery owner Gennaro Petrecca with the aim of creating an exhibition space for artists, available to the city of Iserna and the Molise Region.
Information
Vernissage
08/05/2021 at 6.30 PM
The vernissage will take place at 6.30 PM on May 8th 2021 at Spazio Arte Petrecca (Corso Marcelli, 180 — Isernia). Carmen D’Antonino and Martina Scavone, curators and art historians, Gennaro Petrecca, art director and gallerist, and artist Paul-Yves Poumay will speak at the opening.
Opening to the Public
The opening to the public will be granted from Tuesday to Saturday (5:00 PM to 8:00 PM), within the limits of the restrictions due to the sanitary emergency. It is required to follow public health measures for Covid-19, such as using face covering and booking in advance the visit to the gallery.
Finissage
09/05/2021 at 6.30 PM
