PSYCHE-SOMA A solo show by Florian Eymann

The Lawrence Alkin Gallery is excited to present the work of French artist Florian Eymann, who will be exhibiting in London for the first time this month. His new solo show, entitled ‘Psyche-Soma’ will feature 23 original artworks in oil and watercolour on paper and canvas.

Creating alluring portraiture inspired by the masters, Eymann’s interpretations feature purposeful distortions, encouraging the audience to think about the relationship between the mind and the body.

“I want the audience to think of classical portraits initially, then notice my distortions and make their own interpretations. The viewer must delve into their own psyche to fill in the gaps and create each piece as a whole.” Eymann

As well as the distortion and deformation of classical tropes, Eymann’s work contains significant contrasts between dark and light. The dark tones are symbolic of the human psyche, which in contrast to the body, cannot be physically seen. Lighter tones represent what we see on the surface, including the body and the outward persona. Eymann brings the light and dark together to recognise the two aspects of an individual working together. He explains:

“Within society I feel there is an overall lack of emphasis on understanding the psyche and our more complex emotions. People often shut away feelings as a defense mechanism, but this causes bigger conflict within the body. I want my work to unlock doors in the viewer’s mind, whether this evokes a positive or negative reaction depends on the individual, but the most important thing is that the work incites emotion.”

Inspired by the great masters Caravaggio, Rubens, Rembrandt, and often stylistically compared to Francis Bacon, Eymann's work features intense brush strokes and areas of thick impasto.
Using classic portraiture as a base, Eymann takes only the most recognizable elements as a starting point, incorporating expressive elements to hide or deform non-relevant attributes.

Many of Eymann’s works incorporate the colour red, which results in images that at first can be perceived as bloodied or wounded. However when considered in relation to the psyche, red is symbolic of life and an awakening of intuition.

On bringing his work to London for the first time, Eymann said:

“London is a city I love for its dynamism and cultural boldness, yet as with many capital cities across the world, I feel people can be too busy in work and life and often neglect the psyche. I’d like those who come to the show to allow the work to arouse the emotions and take the opportunity to connect with oneself on a deeper level.”

The works within the show are all original and exclusive, with pieces varying in size from 38cm x 46cm to 116cm x 73cm.