Inspiration hides in plain sight at Nicosia exhibition
Harmonie Symbiotique is the title of a new exhibition opening on Nicosia’s art scene next week. Running at the Centre of Contemporary Art Diatopos from November 18 to December 18, this is a solo showcase of the French Cyprus-based artist Mathieu Devavry.
Inspiration is hidden in plain sight for the artist, often found in seaside walks, collecting natural elements such as sea-polished glass, driftwood and roots. He takes these materials and incorporates them into his sculptures as a means to converse with contemporary materials and challenge the relationship between humans and their environment.
“Mathieu Devavry’s art,” say organisers, “ever-evolving, is an intimate exploration of transformation, resilience, and the cycles of life. His paintings, sometimes appearing chaotic, reflect a quest for harmony within the apparent disorder of the world. Through his ongoing projects in Cyprus and beyond, he continues to push the boundaries of his visual language, constantly reinventing his approach to capture the complex fusion of his roots, his environment, and his humanity.
“Devavry seeks to transcend ordinary perception, delving into the unseen dimensions of reality through the lens of quantum entanglement,” they add. “Inspired by Gilles Deleuze’s philosophy and the concept of horizontal arborisation, he rejects rigid hierarchies in favour of a rhizomatic structure, fluid and nonlinear, where every element is interconnected like a living network. Drawing from natural and scientific processes, he questions the boundaries between cultivated life and the untamed wild. His ever-evolving creations invite us to rediscover the hidden threads that bind us to our environment, revealing the fragile and mysterious beauty of our interdependence with the natural world.”
Expansive, multidisciplinary and evolving, Devavry’s art encompasses a variety of themes and expressions. Over his lengthy career his work has included painting, sculpture, performance, scenography, street art and video. Since 2014, Cyprus has been his base, where his work is deeply influenced by his connection to nature and his own roots, particularly his childhood spent in the unique forest of Faux de Verzy in the Champagne region.
Solo and collective exhibitions have presented his works to the public, in Cyprus, France and across Europe. His upcoming show in Nicosia, invites Cyprus’ art lovers and those culture curious to explore his harmonious symbiosis.
Harmonie Symbiotique
Art exhibition by Mathieu Devavry. November 18-December 18. Diatopos Centre for Contemporary Art, Nicosia. Opening night: 8pm. Wednesday-Friday: 4pm-7 pm, Saturday: 11am-1 pm. Tel: 22-766117. info@diatopos.com. www.diatopos.com