Les traces, les signes et les marques du temps interrogent et inspirent Marie-Hélène Carcanague. Au fil de ses pérégrinations et voyages, elle s’intéresse aux vieux murs décrépits et maintes fois repeints, où apparaissent parfois mappemondes ou silhouettes, à l’écorce des arbres, à la surface oxydée de métaux, aux rochers couverts de lichens, aux graffitis…

Longtemps l’appareil photo a été son outil favori. Mais au fil du temps, le tirage photographique lui a semblé froid, trop net, d’une surface trop lisse. La peinture l’a amenée à une écriture moins “parfaite”, plus personnelle, éloignée du réel. Elle aime la gestuelle et la tactilité qu’elle suppose.

En mélangeant les techniques (acrylique, crayon, pastel, pochoir, collages…), elle improvise et expérimente sans cesse. Par couches superposées, elle joue avec les textures, les couleurs fanées, en transparence ou en épaisseur.

Entre abstrait et figuratif, sa peinture évoque souvent l’être humain, “espèce d’animal mal élevé” dit-elle. On peut parfois voir y apparaître des bêtes imaginaires ayant des choses à dire. Elle peint les désordres du monde, et pour tenter de les oublier, un univers de rêve et de fantaisie…

“Une peinture délicate, d’une grande intelligence sensible…
Des effleurements pour aller au fond.”

Pierre Souchaud. Nicole’s Museum

Au sujet de la série “Les invisibles”

… Sous la couverture, l’homme, ou la femme, dort, ou tente d’oublier. Humanité au ras de la terre, dont on ne distingue ni membre ni tête, humanité invisible.

La main qui sort au dehors, ou sur la toile voisine un bras, un pied, la peinture de Marie-Hélène Carcanague les rend intensément présents. Présence ici détendue, apaisée ; là inquiète, interrogative ; toujours fragile.

… Ces Invisibles vivent sur l’indétermination, le suspens, d’une frontière ; frontière entre là-bas et ici, haine et fraternité, indifférence et compassion, peur et confiance. Cette frontière me traverse aussi, c’est en cela je crois que cette peinture me touche. Le monde que cette peinture rend visible est le nôtre, ces vies, en ce qu’elles témoignent de fragilité, d’incertitude, d’espoir aussi sans doute, sont les nôtres.

… Une dernière chose : nulle accusation dans ces corps allongés, nul appel à la pitié. Ces invisibles, ces migrants que peint Marie-Hélène Carcanague, qui sont aussi les SDF de nos trottoirs, qu’elle peint avec un infini respect, nous obligent. Cette humanité est la nôtre.

François Charru

AATONAU!
MARIE-HELENE CARCANAGUE : MASTER OF MARKS AND TEXTURES.

By Hajra Salinas
February 1, 2023

Marie-Hélène Carcanague’s upbringing in a small city may have been unassuming, but her roots run deep in the rugged countryside of southern France. Though she never lived in this semi-mountainous region, it is these wild and remote places that have had the most profound impact on her.

As an artist, Carcanague is a master of effects of matter, seamlessly blending acrylic, pencil, pastel, and collages to create stunningly layered works of art. Her paintings often feature the rich patina of time, with traces, signs, and marks left by the elements – from the weathered rocks and ancient walls, to the gnarled bark of trees, rust and graffiti.

Marie-Hélène’s art is a journey through the abstract and figurative. Each piece is a window into the artist’s own experiences and the landscapes that have shaped her, inviting the viewer to explore and discover the hidden depths of her work.

She constantly pushes the boundaries of her craft and exploring new ways to express herself through her work.

But as her artistic journey has progressed, she has found that photography she has loved for long does not give her sufficient freedom. The sharp images, the smooth and cold surface of the prints no longer resonate with her creative aspirations, and she has turned to painting as a means of exploring new frontiers in color and form.

With her painting, she dares to be more experimental, unafraid to take risks and push her work to new heights. Her favorite pieces are often her most recent works, as they reflect the latest stages of her artistic evolution and showcase her bold and daring approach to art. She is constantly challenging herself to explore new and exciting avenues of expression, and her work continues to evolve and grow with each new piece she creates.

Marie-Hélène Carcanague has a very recognizable style. She has a clear preference for working on canvases measuring 100 x 80 cm. This format perfectly suits her artistic gesture and the tools she uses, allowing her to create distinct works with ease and freedom. However, the artist is not content with sticking to this comfortable format and is eager to explore new horizons. She has long dreamed of working on larger canvases, such as 2.50 x 4 m, but has yet to take the plunge.

The transition to such a scale is not a small feat and requires a whole new set of techniques and approaches. It’s like building a cathedral with a bucket and a shovel, a daunting task that requires a great deal of skill and letting go. But the artist is determined to rise to the challenge and push the boundaries of her art.

For Marie-Héléne, art is not just a mere hobby or pastime, but a vital and essential part of her being. It serves as a form of self-expression, a way to communicate the deepest thoughts and emotions that reside within her soul. She finds solace in the act of creating, and in the beauty and wonder that is revealed through the various exhibitions and galleries she frequents. To her, art is not just limited to visual mediums, but also encompasses the realms of music and sound, allowing her to fully immerse herself in a world of fantasy and imagination. It serves as a way to escape the chaos and turmoil of the world, and to find peace and tranquility in the beauty of creation.

• Artothèque, Espace Chabran, Draguignan
• Centre Culturel Henri Desbals, Toulouse
• Centre Culturel Gilbert Alauzet, Rieupeyroux
• Maison des Arts, Bages
• Art Points de vue, Lauzerte
•  Maison Gramont, Fanjeaux
• Couvent des Olivétains, Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges
• Galerie 3.1 Toulouse
• Galerie l’Etang d’Art, Bages
• Artothèque ADPL, Gondrin
• Galerie Marianne, Argelès-sur-Mer