When you are strolling as an art lover in the southern part of the French Ardèche, there is one gallery you shouldn’t miss. On the contrary, it is even worth the trip.
This art gallery sits in a magnificently restored centuries old stone house, in an old place or “hameau” called Les Silhols. This assembly of only a few houses is situated in Lagorce, which is lying between Vogüé with its beautiful Château and the Pont d’Arc.
Its name “Mirabilia”, which literally means marvels or miracles, is indeed reminiscent to the marvels which were shown in special (collection) display cabinets by the well heeled in their demeures, palais de ville or châteaux.
At the moment of writing this Gallery is closed due to Covid-19 measures, but when it reopens – at the moment of writing, it is set at the middle of June, you will be able to admire the motifs, textures and colors of the carpets and Kilims of the Orient. The exhibition is dubbed “Tisser la Couleur” or “Weave the Color”.
Painters like Klee and Matisse stood in admiration for this richness in colors, patterns and motifs and the visitor will indeed be inspired by their rhythmic interaction.
To have an overview of the exhibition, you can view the film produced during confinement: Weaving the color: Oriental rugs and kilims at the Mirabilia gallery: youtu.be/K9DI91nBVe.
The Gallery owner Dominique Thibaud plans further exhibitions this year. From July 18 until August 30, she will show the art of painter René Moreu and photographer Mario Del Curto.
René Moreu passed away on Saturday May 16, 2020. He would have been 100 years old next November.
The Mirabilia gallery will pay tribute to him this summer with the exhibition “Scenes from garden life.”
René Moreu says about his plant paintings “I look at plants like a musician listens to birds.” He draws and paints as close to their original cosmogony as possible.
Mario Del Curto has explored over the last 10 years the relationship between man and vegetation. He is intrigued by the evolution of mankind which gradually gets disconnected from its biological and physiological origins. He has very recently published a photo book at Actes Sud, called “Humanité Végétale”. He has made not less than 500,000 photos of all the dimensions of vegetation, as food product, as ornamentation, as scientific material, and delves deep into how human intelligence interacts and increasingly controls the organization of world’s vegetation. He firmly believes that we need to find a responsible balance to preserve a safe and green world for us.
On Sunday, July 26, she plans a one day artistic journey or walking tour in the south of the Ardèche, in the company of photographer Mario Del Curto, film producer Christian Tran, sculptor Jan Kopp and saxophone musician Damien Sabatier. After an itinial presentation in the Galerie Mirabilia, visit will be made to the Musée des Vans, the “Cinema Vivans” in Les Vans, where a film will be presented « TITRE », and further in the afternoon, after an aristic walk, the sculpture of Jan Kopp, « Les yeux de la Sueille », will be represented. For the whole programme of third day, we refer to http://www.galeriemirabilia.fr/evenement-galerie-mirabilia.html.
We personally have visited this Gallery Mirabilia regularly over the last few years, and last year have admired the work of Raoul Ubac and a year earlier Alexandre Hollan.
Last year, sculptural works of Jean Patrice Rozand also took centre stage alongside Raoul Ubac.
Rozand makes his sculptures with flat sheets of steel, which are gently curved to spread the light rays and give tension to his creations. We show you some photos of his work here.
Mirabilia Gallery is closed for the time being, but as said, plans to reopen towards mid-June.
Hans Knol ten Bensel
