Claude Bouscharain: Strange Enchantments

11 Feb 2009 - 15 Mar 2009

Strange Enchantments is a term used by Bruce Arnott to describe the art of Claude Bouscharain in a monographic study of the artist published in 1976, referencing in particular the elusive and mystical imagery which characterize her oeuvre. The metaphysical quality of her art is born from a continuous urge to explore the essential and imagined inner life of ordinary, familiar objects and fascinating subjects. In her paintings, an enigmatic reality, taunted by visual and intellectual contradictions appears credible.

The exhibition, Strange Enchantments, brings together a selection of paintings from 1948 to 2005, exploring Claude Bouscharain’s use of esoteric symbolism in her dream-like expressions. Bouscharain's work invites comparison to certain stylistic principles associated with Fauvist, Futurist and Surrealist movements. The exhibition incorporates works from different periods. These include early works made whilst studying at the Art Students’ League in New York and at the Academie Montmarte in Paris under the tutelage of Fernand Leger (1948-1952); Lyrical oil paintings (1952-1966); followed by Epic Style paintings (1966-c.1981) executed in vibrant, smoothly applied acrylics for which the artist is probably best known. Her later work (since 1982-2005) marks a change to a looser approach, as well as a return to the use of oils.

Claude Bouscharain’s art remains impressive for sheer originality and poetic essence. As an artist she contributed unusual and excitingly different perspectives to the artistic heritage of South Africa.

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