Taher Jaoui
Artist of the week July 2020
‘Perfection does not matter but details do’
Taher Jaoui
Taher Jaoui is one the leading Abstract- Expressionist artist from Paris. Educated in Paris in the Sorbonne University, Jaoui graduated in 2007. He now lives and works in Madrid, Spain. Focused on conveying emotions and regularly working on a large scale, the works which are exclusively built in an automatic or subconscious manner, are actually demanding careful planning and utilisation of space and materials. While balancing between his thoughts and feelings while creating, Jaoui’s work carries that sense of rebellious, anarchic, highly idiosyncratic and, some might say nihilistic feel to it, yet still constructing an endless base for viewer-dependent interpretation and experience
Creating captivating and labor-intensive work with an idea of continuing the legacy of abstract expressionism movement from the 50s and 60s, Taher Jaoui’s paintings are rich assemblages of layered forms, vibrant colours, expressive gestures, and mathematics signs and formulas. Applied on canvas through a dynamic interaction, a physical back and forth dialogue in which perspective and orientation continuously change until all the elements are balanced right, these opulent creations are the artist’s personal way of expressing himself.
You're left with just a Name
Impulse and Movement
Through a series of spontaneous movements, directly inspired by the way canvas responds to layers of paint and gestures applied to it, Jaoui compares his work to a dance routine with a familiar partner. The creative act itself is essential referring to the subconscious of the artist, the reflex action believed as the only authentic way of creating.
And while impulsive and unconstrained in its core, the familiarity with materials is essential for the creative process that strongly depends on the ability to respond quickly and foresee the way the elements will work together.
Monster in the Closet
Free Gestures and Layering colours
Jaoui’s style is based on use of unconstrained, free of rules gestures, on aimless and spontaneous action. Layering pastels, oils, and acrylics, the artist accents the richness of his work by constructing a raw texture which directly captures the physical energy put into each piece.
Serving as a channel to convey his thoughts, emotions, and visions, the artistic practice is Jaoui’s source of confidence and peace, while the finished work becomes a documentation of the process of achieving those feelings.
Death Line
Represented by the following art galleries worldwide: Opera Gallery, Eternity Gallery (Paris, Miami), Oliver Cole Gallery (Miami), Samuel Owen Gallery (Greenwich, Nantucket, Palm Beach), Uncommon beauty Gallery (New York), Galerie Kremers (Berlin), Eve Leibe Gallery (London), Graham Contemporary Gallery (Johannesburg), Mika Gallery (New York/Tel Aviv), Srisasanti Syndicate (Yogyakarta), One Four Gallery (Seoul) and Smart BA Gallery (Buenos Aires).
Fat chicken wins it all
No regrets
Meet Taher Jaoui
Without any formal art education, his artistic practice is influenced by African primitive art, graffiti, glitch art, COBRA movement as well as the philosophy and attitude of post-war abstract expressionism. Varying from simple forms and patterns over familiar shapes that reminiscent of abstracted skulls, all the way to chalkboard-like scribble sections, the canvas surface becomes the workspace through which the artist exercises his ways of expression.
The concept of building something from a variety of singular elements is a direct result of computer science and engineering studies, parts of which are coming to life through abstract mathematics signs and formulas sometimes incorporated into Jaoui’s entrancing compositions. This element, along with the spatial vision of the surface, once again makes a strong connection with early abstract expressionism concepts which considered ideas of quantum mechanics in their conceptualisation.
I feel more confused than a Chamaleon
Solo Exhibitions
> 81 Leonard Gallery + Uncommon Beauty Gallery, New York, USA, February 2020 > Galerie Kremers, Berlin, Germany, September 2019 > Graham Modern and Contemporary Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa, May 2019 > Jinsan Gallery, Seoul, Korea, January 2019 > Ghaya Gallery, Tunis, Tunisia, January 2018 > Untitled I at Galerie la Rotonde – Galerie la Rotonde, April 2017, Paris, France > Masques simulacres – Solo, Musk and Amber Gallery, September 2016, Tunis, Tunisia > Métamorphoses Collage- Solo, Gallerie les Insolites, Tangier, Morocco, November 2015 > Simulacrum – Solo. Atelier MilanaSmokvine, Rijeka, Croatia, February 2015
Art Fairs
> CONTEXT Miami art Fair, USA, December 2019 > Budapest art Fair, Budapest, Hungary, November 2019 > Art Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia, August 2019 > Art Expo Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 2019 > Beirut Art Fair, Beirut, Lebanon, September 2019 > Busan Art Fair, Busan, South Korea, June 2019 > Fresh Paint Art Fair, Tel Aviv, Israel, May 2019> Architectural Digest Show, Uncommon Beauty Gallery, New York, USA, March 2019 > Scope art Fair, Azart Gallery, Miami, USA, December 2018 > CONTEXT Miami art Fair, USA, December 2018 > EMERGEAST Auction IV, Dubai, UAE, November 2017
Back to the Future
How to hack a Soul
www.taherjaoui.com
Photos copyright by: Taher Jaoui
