Catherine Poulain
Catherine Poulain is a French contemporary artist born in Paris in 1965. Her diverse body of work encompasses painting, sculpture, photography, performance, and video art. Deeply moved by human suffering, Poulain’s art reflects on societal and planetary violence, aiming to raise awareness about these issues. Her paintings often feature dynamic lines and vivid colors, symbolizing themes ranging from the microscopic to the cosmic. An advocate for freedom and diversity, she challenges perceptions through her art, encouraging viewers to confront and contemplate the complexities of existence. Poulain has exhibited her work internationally, engaging audiences with her thought-provoking pieces
Catherine Poulain demonstrates a profound commitment to environmental engagement through her artistic practice, which often incorporates natural and recycled materials. Her work reflects a deep respect for nature, highlighting its fragility and the urgent need to address ecological degradation. By repurposing organic elements like branches, seaweed, and slate, she creates poetic and thought-provoking pieces that draw attention to the interconnectedness of life and the impact of human actions on the planet. Poulain’s art serves as a call to protect the environment, blending aesthetic expression with a powerful message of sustainability and ecological awareness.
Used material, technique, support:
Ready-made, bas-relief, collage, slate assemblage, photo, branch, seaweed
Artwork Description:
“Océano Vox” by Catherine Poulain gives a voice to the sediments of history buried within the subconscious, symbolized by the ocean. An Egyptian antiquity mummy re-emerges after death through a photograph assembled on a slate tile, accompanied by a gnarled branch and a vertical piece of seaweed towering above it like a tree of life. The work is a poetic recycling of natural materials and forms part of a series featuring photographs of saints, expressing the pain of damaged nature and the transcendence of immortal souls through the composed image.
