Deus ex Familia

5 November – 23 December 2023
Opening Sunday 5 November 2 - 7 PM

Frédérick Mouraux is pleased to present the works of the internationally renowned French artist Philippe Pasqua in a solo exhibition “Deus ex Familia” at the gallery in Brussels, Belgium.

Born in Grasse in 1965, Philippe Pasqua is a self-taught painter who escaped the institutions and classical circuits. Inspired by Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud, he has gradually established himself as one of the leading artists of his generation. His art impresses, overwhelms and fascinates. Present in numerous private collections, his work is exhibited in museums such as the Oceanographic Museum ofMonaco and the Musée de la Marine in Bordeaux. Since 1990, he has exhibited in solo shows in Paris, Mexico City, Hamburg, New York, London, Singapore, Venice, Tel Aviv, Bordeaux and in 2023 at the Frederick Mouraux Gallery in Brussels.

The works of Philippe Pasqua exhibited at the Frédérick Mouraux Gallery are part of a series of 6 large-format paintings (300 x 200 cm) entitled “Deus Ex Familia” (from Latin: God from the family).

The human figure, key to Philippe Pasqua, is presented in a more affective light this time, in the form of photographs of his children, his loved ones, his partner... The artist created a highly homogeneous series, not only in terms of subject matter, but also in terms of technique: combining photographic collage, painting, drawing, stains, and leftovers materials.

A graphic section (lines, overlays, scribbles, etc.) frames the figures, taking on an invasive, even intrusive feel that gives the impression of chaos and disorder. Children, shown in their everyday activities, play an important role in the work as "serene human figures in a universe that is all but serene," according to writer Paul Ardenne… Pasqua's freedom of expression takes us on a journey from tranquility to anxiety, from order to disorder. Family life appears to us as a guarantee of serenity, belonging and identity, in the face of anxiety and degradation.

In addition to the large-format series, Frédérick Mouraux has chosen to present a number of photographic portraits, a source and the results of genuine creativity for the artist.

Philippe Pasqua's "Deus ex Familia" series is a celebration of the possible happiness of existence.