International Mon 14-11-2011

‘BESTIAIRE’ by Soly Cisse @ Influx Contemporary Gallery
By Olivier Sultan

As in any important body of work, the paintings of Soly Cissé are not just "beautiful", "well crafted" or "pleasant".  In fact, they bring us back to the essential, back to the very essence of existence, of desire, of madness, of Death (Death is always there, in ambush). The sometimes scarcely 

sketched figures, the quick brushstroke, the nervous but sure gesture are sufficient to tell the essential.  
 
There is an astonishing effect in Soly Cissé.  As if his “personnages” had been taken by the whitish flash of death.  The backdrop is set. Black. 
 
Implacable.  It is against this infinite space that will briefly march on parade, the wanderers , the returning ones, the survivors. Figures, graphs, codes, all seem to testify the official report. 
 ‘BESTIAIRE’ Soly Cisse
 
X- rays of a flagrant offence of excess of life, of intensity, of flesh, all this passes before our eyes and balances itself within the strict space of the 
canvas, in a strict time interval, always against this black, powerful, omnipresent background. The infinite is the measure of all things.   
 
Soly Cissé frees his ghosts, takes them out for a joyful walk with his animals of (bad) company. Just a brief, restless, dynamic dance.  They do not bite. Beauty comes to the relief of the powerful souls.  
 
Soly presents this feature film, both funny and tragic, with the kindness of someone who has seen, far under the skin, under the mask, the tragic commotion, the boiling lava.   
 
One day, for sure, we will awaken from this life where we have become less, well less than ghosts.  Ghosts and phantoms transformed in turbulent 
 
and dynamic fictions.  It is urgent to do the Art before Death.  To do work before she comes.   
 
 
INFLUX CONTEMPORARY ART 
Rua Fernando Vaz, 20 B 
1750-108 Lisboa 
+ 351 91 850 1234 
info@influxcontemporary.com 
www.influxcontemporary.com 
 
 *Olivier Sultan is a visual artist, art critic and director of the Museé des Arts 
Derniérs in Paris. 
 
 
 

Posted By: Andrew Njorge

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