"The Fishes" is a work with strong yet simple graphics. Fish whose bellies are filled with human faces, sometimes terrifying, sometimes serene, swim in golden waters. In the distance, a quasi-religious edifice seems to stand out against an eternal blue sky. Patrick Gourgouillat's approach to fish is almost Christ-like: it speaks of a human destiny dedicated to the sacred at all costs. In his composition, the artist doesn't bother with respect for proportions or a certain realism. What takes precedence here is a sea of giant fish with bellies full of wandering but still living human souls. The "water" space takes precedence, as if to signify the mysterious and profound values of this element. The pictorial elements are taken from the artist's series: [Le troisième mois] and [Viva La Vida]. Technically, the paper is printed in black, cut out and glued to the canvas. The glued motifs are then enhanced with black ink, as if to fix the intensity of the nuance. Hand-drawn elements in black, blue, gold and orange are then added to the composition. The whole is covered with a matte varnish. DeepL.com (free version)
