From February 10 to May 21, the French artist C215 will display almost forty of his portraits of famous artists created with a stencil at the National Sports Museum in Nice. A way for Christian Guémy – his real name – to share his passion for this universe and, as he told us: « to tell stories through these very human portraits that make these sports idols a bit more familiar », beyond their achievements or their prize list.
As part of this exhibition soberly titled Athlètes, which will be officially launched on Thursday 9th in the city of Southern France, he chose to create his artworks directly on equipments that belonged to these sportspersons. A way « to integrate the form and substance », he explains, and to use « the colors, the structure and the function of the outfit as a context » on which he bases his creative process
On the programme of this exhibition: portraits of the French athletes Nikola Karabatic, Tony Parker, Sarah Ourahmoune, Renaud Lavillenie, Laura Flessel, Antoine Griezmann, Marie-Amelie Le Fur or even Zinédine Zidane. A diversified panel that goes from handball to fencing, passing by boxing, basketball, athletics and football.
Artworks with accurate outlines that directly let appear the original touch of the artist, which will also be displayed in public in April at the Parisian gallery Openspace and in the city hall of the 13th district in the French capital in the beginning of Autumn. Meanwhile, C215 will continue with the same lifestyle which he describes as such, with a touch of humour: « locked at home, sitting at my cutting table, tirelessly chiseling dozens of portraits ».
