A new solo show by worldwide known Belgian artist Jan Fabre at the Mucciaccia Gallery.
Mucciaccia Gallery is delighted to present “Songs of the Gypsies (A Tribute to Django Reinhardt and Django Gennaro Fabre)”, a solo show by worldwide known Belgian artist Jan Fabre at the London location. It constitutes the second and final chapter of a new body of works never before exhibited, meticulously carved in white Carrara marble, after the successful opening of its first chapter “Songs of the Canaries (A Tribute to Emiel Fabre and Robert Stroud)”, running until November 23rd. It presents brand-new impressive pieces made with the sculptural stone from centuries-old tradition but enlivened by the vis- ionary Belgian master, alongside an astonishing collection of colourful, original drawings.
The heart of the exhibition consists of three large marble sculptures combining iconographic tradition and contemporary innovation, personal life and universal meanings. Fabre weaves the image of an out of scale child - his son at the age of 5 1/2 months but as tall as his father - into a symphony of existence. The dramaturgy of the exhibition begins on a personal note: he named his firstborn son Django Gennaro, where Django refers to Django Reinhardt, a Belgian virtuoso gypsy jazz guitarist, acclaimed by musicians of all genres as brilliant and innovative. Reinhardt had managed to excel and invent a personal musical genre from a major disadvantage: a severe impairment in his left hand from an accident as a boy. The artist chose to dedicate the exhibition to these two important people in his life, sources of inspiration for his art. From this intimate starting point, the rhythm of life stretches and swells into a universal cadence.
The delicate forms of babies take on a metaphysical dimension in Fabre’s hands, beckoning us to reflect on the mystery of creation, the fragility of existence and the elusive chase for spiritual transcendence. These ethereal creatures are also jazzed-up messengers, inviting us to orchestrate their existential exploration. Indeed, music plays a central role in this exhibition. Reinhardt’s gypsy jazz and life appear on sculptures and drawings as symbols very dear to Jan Fabre, who grew up indeed with his music thanks to the passion and musical knowledge of his father Edmond Fabre.
Born in Antwerp in 1958, Jan Fabre is a leading innovator and one of the most influential figures in the international contemporary art world. Known for his contributions to visual art, theatre and literature, he is the first living artist to hold large-scale solo exhibitions at prestigious institutions such as the Louvre Museum in Paris in 2008 and the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg in 2017.
EXHIBITION DETAILS
Songs of the Gypsies (A Tribute to Django Reinhardt and Django Gennaro Fabre)
Dates: November 29th, 2024- January 25th, 2025
Location: Mucciaccia Gallery 21 Dering Street, London W1S 1AL
Monday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm
Further Information: Jan Fabre | Songs of the Gypsies