From L'Artocarpe to Martinique:
Mehal has always been influenced by architecture, a discipline he studied alongside filmmaking.
His childhood was marked by the chaotic composition of social buildings of Trenelle, a popular quarter considered as the shantytown of Ford-de-France. Little Mehal recalls the light bulb inside all makeshift wooden homes, hanging by just a single extension, visible from all windows from the distance...
Later Mehal got to realize how social condition informs homes. Sticking to the sole element of  interior lighting, Mehal swaps from lightbulb to chandelier according to the theme of his painting, adding to it the same pressure of colors, covering up some part of the painting to reflect human life in our global world.


 

De-construction, the title of the master piece, which was created at L'Artocarpe, gave the name to this remarkable exhibition, as a way to revisit several clichés.

1. First:  the one over artworks produced by Caribbean artists: Mehal insists on creating his own colors, which distant themselves from the usual exotic colors often attributed to the region and artists from the Caribbean. His work is extremely meticulous, at times, cold, which goes against preconceived ideas of the Caribbean way of making art. The artist is at ease on many disciplines: painting, sculpture, video, installation and printmaking. To our knowledge, he is one of the only artists from the Caribbean using monochrome.
2. Second: the cliché over themes chosen by Caribbean artists: Mehal is getting away from the viewpoint of being literal in his approach to Caribbean history, social and political themes. To ensure a much wider vision that relates to universal issues -that of social hierarchy, contrasts between nature and cities and so on and so forth- the artist adopts a contemporary language to express his views. That does not prevent him to be strongly influenced by his homeland, as well as the issues faced on his native island.
3. Third: the cliché over the impossibility for an Caribbean artist to reach the art market: Mehal has been represented by several art galleries in Europe (Vienna; Paris...). His has had many art collectors who have been following him for over 20 years. He work is present on the major art fairs (Art Paris, La FIAC...). The exhibition at the Clement Foundation is also for him the opportunity to sign his first monographic catalogue with important contributors in it: Stephanie Pioda (Beaux Arts Magazine)  and Lélia Mordoch (his gallery director).

And last but not least: Mehal allows his own people and parents to enjoy fully his talent within the best set up offered today in terms of exhibiting artworks in Martinique...





L'Artocarpe wishes to thank the Foundation Clément for inviting L'Artocarpe founder, Joëlle Ferly, to be part of Sébastien Mehal's venture at La Case à Léo.

L'Artocarpe took the opportunity to hold a meeting with members from Martinique...