‘My Makeup is Wrong,’ the latest exhibition by talented artist Fabienne Francotte, offers a deeply personal exploration of grief, providing an intimate glimpse into her psyche as she navigates the complex themes of loss, trauma, and acceptance.
Through the meticulous application of ink, Francotte’s brushwork reveals a fascinating interplay between restraint and release, reflecting her background in calligraphy and ballet. These influences manifest in her precise movements, allowing her to engage in a profound dialogue with her materials. This relationship between artist and medium is critical to her process, as she contemplates the societal discourse surrounding invisible wounds and hidden traumas that shape our lives.
The exhibition features the eponymous series ‘My Makeup is Wrong’, which presents ethereal portraits—ghostly, half-formed expressions that evoke a haunting ambiguity. Through shades of blue and soft white, Francotte skillfully embodies the scars left by absence, delineating emotional wounds across her figures with bold lines of red and black. With closed eyes and tense expressions, these portrayals reflect the deep, lingering sentiments associated with loss.
In her series ‘Roots’, Francotte explores the fragility of existence through black, thread-like streaks that flow vertically down the canvas. These roots appear detached from their source, symbolizing the ongoing struggle for grounding as we navigate life’s challenges.
Beyond ink and paint, Fabienne Francotte expands her artistry to include fabric, metal, and clay, engaging with the aftermath of trauma, abuse, and migratory displacement. Drawing from her observations and personal experiences, she transcends cultural and socioeconomic boundaries, offering a perspective that reflects the complexities and shared humanity encountered across diverse divides.
Since moving to Sri Lanka in 2016, Francotte has been keenly aware of various social issues impacting the island. Her artistic journey is interwoven with personal narratives, as she has spent years documenting her experiences in diaries. This written language has organically transformed into a visual dialogue, allowing her to channel the intense emotions that underpin her work.
Fabienne Francotte’s artistic credentials are impressive. She studied calligraphy at Maison du Livre in Brussels in 2000 and has participated in the KIAR Art Residency in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 2022. Her work has been showcased in numerous solo and group exhibitions across Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, and South Asia.
The exhibition ‘My Makeup is Wrong’ at Saskia Fernando Gallery concludes on December 17. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the powerful narratives and striking visuals that Fabienne Francotte has to offer in this compelling exhibition.
