Monday 5 August 2013

Face to Face: Brigitte Willers

 
Face to Face is the title of the painting used on the poster advertising Brigitte Willers' August exhibition of gloriously detailed aquarelles in Viens. Every year, she explains, there's one image that seems to sum up what her work is about, and the key is here, on the reflections of the landscape on the old truck window and the rust that seems to be taking over the ancient farm vehicle, taking it, little by little, back to earth.
 
'I'm interested in reflections in glass, which can be as fascinating as those in water,' she told me at her gallery in the Old Bakery. In this picture, the truck faces the ridge of the Grand Luberon but the side window reflects back a view of the hilltop village of Viens.
 
Willers' paintings are full of complex patterns and almost photographic detail. Her scenes of year-round Luberon life focus on the rustic and neglected, the run-down and forgotten corners. The patina of rust is another of her fascinations.
 
 
But these are contrasted throughout with vibrant close-ups of nature, the explosions of colour summing up beautifully the balance between the picturesque decay and rampant flora in Provence, all lit by the brightest of sunshine.
 
 
 
 
If you are anywhere near Viens - close to the town of Apt - before August 25th, Brigitte Willers' work is well worth seeing. If you can't get here, click here for her website.


7 comments:

Gill Edwards said...

stunning paintings, you are right they are so like photographs.
Your love of and stories about lavender has rubbed off on me as my new blog post details
http://stampinglemons.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/return-of-lavender-plants.html

Gill x

Amanda said...

It is always such a visual pleasure to discover new artists. Brigitte is very talented. I am going to visit her website now.

Maureen said...

Thank you for the introduction to Willers's wonderful paintings.

stadtgarten said...

Wonderful paintings! Unfortuately we will not be in the area for the next weeks (we have been in Apt last thursday), I would have loved to visit the exhibition.

Marcheline said...

This artist understands that vehicles are people, too. I've always felt that. You can absolutely sense that truck looking at the mountains, and dreaming its dreams of yesterday...

everything french said...

la 2 cv qui tombe en ruine est superbe. Tres beau travail!

James Kiester said...

She has a nice grasp of balance between decay & beauty.

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