A sensational turn of events
One day, on a beautiful day, a windy day, a rainy day, her whole life was to be changed by a strange encounter - in the middle of a pile of industrial rubbish! “One day, by chance”, she says, “I came across a piece of industrial felt, the stuff you use, among other things, to insulate cars. This discovery came as a shock, and I realized that day that I was to be a sculptor. All I had to do was to find out how to use this rough, rudimentary substance. It was love at first sight. I developed a new vocabulary and a technique. Adapting the tools that are usually used for iron and wood, a soldering iron became my right hand. I would burn, distort and corrode the felt, mistreat and slash it, and using automatic gestures I would create a story. Since then, inhabited by an irrepressible frenzy of creation, I have worked tirelessly. Today, this substance holds no secrets to me; the war is no longer between the two of us, we are allied for the best. The war is now against time and I have tocatch up.”
Poetic ? Political !
Nadine Vergues sees what other people don’t see. Where others see an object, trash, dirt or depression, she sees life, potential, hope. From out of the rubbish she makes ghostly beings emerge, who tell of their suffering, solitude, revolt, sharing and love. She gives a voice to armies of humans who have been reduced to silence. Her work is eminently political, she fights against misguided beliefs and clichés. It’s impossible to tie her down or give her a label. She uses textiles, yes, but industrial textiles, and moulds them with a welder’s tools. Her sculptures are imposing and yet light. Light? Yes, but not fragile, and also resistant in every sense of the term, for they will resist to fashion, to time, and to the transience of a moment. “Every day I dig deep into my heart,” says Nadine. “I am profoundly sincere in every act and each item I make, without being deceitful or condescending to anyone or to anything. I am free and authentic.” Nadine Vergue’s creation expresses the power which is buried in the hearts of people, the revolt of the excluded and degraded who use their hands and creative energy to express themselves. It’s not surprising that people in other continents are interested in her work and that her sculptures are to be sent abroad; they speak to the universal soul and the heart of humanity.
Nadine Vergues
Exhibitions
2016
Cultural Centre of Agen in March and April
Gourdon, a chapel, in May
ART BUSAN, international Art Fair of Seoul, (Korea) in May
Séance de dédicace, galerie Carré d’Artistes de Séoul,
from 23th to 26th June
Espace Culturel de Rignac, in Juillet and August
ArtQuercy, Caussade, in August
Salon Outsider Demin, in August
Art3f Bruxelles, in September
Salon d’Automne Paris, in October
Servian (Aude) in November
2015
Les Hivernales de Bonsécours
L’Usine à Zabu, Evreux in April
Délires de lires Am Arts, Chartres
Espace Gibert, Lézignan-Corbières in June
Guest at the franco-brazilian week in Sao Paulo
ART BUSAN, international Art Fair of Seoul, (Korea)
Personal exhibition at Yes Art Galery, Belgium
Art3f Lyon and Montpellier
2014
L’Aiguille en Fête with Ze-Art Gallery
Lille Art Fair with the gallery of Nicole Gogart
Bann’Art Festival of strange art in Bannes, Ardèches
Biennial of Contemporary Art in Chateauneuf in Thymerais
2013
Lille Art Fair with the gallery of Nicole Gogat
Chateau de Fumel in August
Selection for Artextures
Yes Art Gallery in Sint-Idesbald, Belgium
Espace Culturel, Millau
Culturel Centre, Rieupeyroux
2012
Lille Art Fair with the gallery of Nicole Gogat
BJ Artgallery, Paris in June
Clavreul Galery, Paris, in August
GOGAT Gallery, Aigues-Mortes in September
Art Gent, Belgium with Ze Art Gallery
2011
Selection Artextures; itinerant exhibitions
Bienniale WTA-Aire in Mexico
Autres Mathilde in Caen, Calvados
IRMACC, St Etienne in the Loire
“Dessiner la dentelle”, Calais, Pas de Calais
St-Art, Strasbourg with the Gogat Gallery
2010
Commande of the Jean Boudou Museum
Personal exhibition at Le Vieux Moulin, Millau, Aveyron
No Artworks for this Artist
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