André Brasilier: Grande Fantasia

EVENT DESCRIPTION

This summer, Sotheby’s is delighted to present André Brasilier: Grande Fantasia, a selling exhibition featuring a spectacular and thorough array of 21 compositions by the French modern master André Brasilier from every chapter of his momentous career. Showcasing fresh-to-market works dating from 1959 to 2019, this in-depth exposition traces the development of an artist whose works exemplify the culmination of Fauvism, Expressionism, Impressionism, and Symbolism. The exhibition will take place at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Gallery from 20 August to 1 September 2022.

With his vibrant palette and fluid brushstrokes, Brasilier’s works depict scenes of reality immersed with feeling, emphasising the peaceful coexistence of man and nature. After setting a new auction record for André Brasilier in Hong Kong earlier in April1, Sotheby’s is thrilled to bring along this highly curated selling exhibition to meet the surging demand among our Asian collectors.

The selling exhibition in Hong Kong will focus on two major themes that are consistently highlighted among the artist’s body of works: horses and his wife and muse – Chantal. An ode to horses, nature, music and the female form, the selection celebrates Brasilier’s aesthetic sensitivity, his unwaveringly optimistic perspective of life and his pursuit of unadulterated joy.

Felix Kwok, Head of Modern Art, Asia, states, “Celebrated as one of the last surviving modernists from the School of Paris (École de Paris), André Brasilier has produced an extensive opus borne from the dazzling innovations of the zeitgeist of modernism, while simultaneously embodying the relevance of the modern era. Born in 1929 in Saumur, France, the maestro’s lifetime spans the greater length of the 20th century until the present day, while his oeuvre reflects the romance and charm of the French countryside, inspired by the land of equestrian practice, castles and wine.”

BRASILIER AND HONG KONG
Having visited Hong Kong with his wife Chantal, André Brasilier was struck by the vitality and energy that lay in the seamless amalgamation of city, ocean and mountain. Through the union of city and nature, Brasilier was able to gain further insight on Chinese artists’ and art lovers’ obsession with nature.
The dreamlike sensibility of Brasilier’s paintings caught the eye of one of the most prolific female authors in Hong Kong— Yi Shu. She is most notably recognized for her romantic novels that depict the intelligent and beauty of women striving for success in the metropolitan city of Hong Kong. Although the famed artist and writer had never crossed paths in their lives; Yi was captivated by Brasilier’s transcendent works that she even used his figurative paintings to illustrate her book covers. Brasilier’s eye-catching compositions resonated with Yi’s readers and reflected the essence of the characters in her novel, and the people of Hong Kong.

EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS – HORSES
Whether they are lone and sedentary under the enchanting, winter moonlight or galloping with might and vigour in a herd on a vibrant spring morning, these horses serve as a metaphor for life and vitality. Brasilier’s iconic equestrian- themed works portray a sense of unsullied beauty, nobility and freedom.

“We have horses at the country house and I’ve always been attracted to them. There were no tractors when I first started painting, so the Anjou countryside was full of cart pulling, castles and horses. My first models were these horses during the war, I sketched in the mud and it was pure happiness.”
André Brasilier

EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS – MUSIC AND MUSE
Brasilier draws inspiration from culture, love and life. His works are roused by memory and music, permeating the artist’s works as well as his studio. From the enriching melodies of classical masters such as Bach, Beethoven and Schubert, to the intoxicating rhythms of jazz music, Brasilier’s personal taste and penchant for culture seeps into his lyrical paintings. This assemblage features flamboyant scenes of parades and circuses are juxtaposed against intimate portrayals of his wife and muse Chantal, inviting the viewer into the profound, utopian sensibility of André Brasilier.

“Chantal is always with me, I see a possibility in every moment, in her noble movements and her beautiful face. When she looks down, I see a Madonna.”
André Brasilier

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

André Brasilier was born to a family of artists in 1929 in Saumur, a city in western France. In 1949, he enrolled in the École des Beaux-Arts de Paris, and he won the Grand Prix de Rome at age 23. Brasilier’s childhood milieu in the idyllic French countryside set the foundations for his lifetime of artistic production: he was inspired by Meigné-le-Vicomte, an old town near his birthplace, and Loupeigne, where he settled after marrying his wife and muse Chantal. Serving as the heart of his life and work, Chantal is described by the artist as “a permanent source of inspiration,” often appearing in his paintings in moments of quietude amongst blooming flowers. Brasilier’s iconic equestrian-themed works portray a sense of unsullied beauty, nobility and freedom.

From 1950-1980, Brasilier held his first retrospective at the Château de Chenonceau, which featured one hundred artworks. Since then, Brasilier held a series of retrospectives at esteemed institutions, including the Musée Picasso- Château Grimaldi in Antibes, the French Riviera, in 1988, the renowned State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 2005, and the Museum Haus Ludwig für Kunstausstellungen Saarlois in Saarland, Germany, in 2007. Brasilier has been honoured with numerous exhibitions globally, from France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Canada, United States, Russia, The Netherlands, Korea to Hong Kong. Brasilier continues to live and work in Paris, France.