Cécile Duchêne-Malissin

Cécile Duchêne-Malissin is a resolutely figurative painter. Her paintings feature isolated characters, imbued with a certain melancholy, and seemingly immersed in deep introspection.

A diversity of mediums servicing composition

Cécile Duchêne-Malissin's painting cannot be labeled as it is unique: in terms of theme, composition, but also technique, mixing acrylic paint, ink, paper and canvas. Wishing to move away from “simple painting”, she uses it as a starting point on a partly mounted canvas, where she adds various techniques such as oil pastel, graphite lead, collage and sometimes even painting. sewing.

Cécile Duchêne-Malissin stays at length on the same theme, applying it to several paintings or drawings. Generally, she starts with a search for composition which she does most of the time with sketches, and then integrates photos.

A dreamlike world full of nostalgia

Cécile Duchêne-Malissin's paintings do not evoke any reference to time or place because that is not what is important. Rather, it is about translating our fragility in the face of the world and the need to hide behind a protective envelope.

If childhood was a big part of her work before, Cécile Duchêne-Malissin's approach is now constantly evolving. However, the relationship with the body and its fragility still remains. The fleetingness of existence, the tiny speck it represents on the overall scale of the Universe: the history of Mankind is as brief as the flapping of a wing.

Cécile Duchêne-Malissin transcribes this brevity thanks to transparencies obtained by layering paint, ink and paper pasted onto the canvas. This ephemerality is addressed in the series "Disappearance", "Metamorphoses" or "Dust".

The characters of the paintings are revealed as much as they are hidden: behind masks or vegetation. They present themselves to the viewer, abandoned to the gaze, and yet restrained. But is it the viewer who observes the character, or is it the other way around?

To Read  : Cécile Duchêne-Malissin’s interview on KAZoART’s blog