Exhibition in Ardèche region

Marion Fayolle, born in 1988, is showcasing her diverse artistic practices—spanning novels, illustrated books, comics, and poetry—at the Château d'Aubenas in the Ardèche region, her birthplace. The exhibition highlights her work described as gentle and playful, and is held at a historical monument that has housed a contemporary art center since 2024.

Venue compared to Miyazaki film setting

The venue, perched above the Ardèche River, is likened to a setting from a Miyazaki film. This comparison underscores the whimsical and imaginative atmosphere of the exhibition space, which has been transformed into a hub for contemporary art.

Exhibition title reflects conceptual shift

The exhibition's title highlights a semantic shift in Fayolle's work, where "decor" becomes "bodies," illustrating the porous and poetic nature of her creations. Curators Mathilde Compagnon and Clémentine Planche have designed an installation that allows visitors to experience the full range of Fayolle's artistic and literary output.

Surreal and symbolic imagery

Fayolle's work features surreal imagery, such as a woman opening a man as if opening a door to find herself in a landscape, and a woman transforming into ivy to embrace a man. These images reflect themes of bodies merging with their environments, and the exhibition includes explicit erotic drawings displayed in a suspended installation, visible only as legs under a red velvet skirt from the outside.

Art as emotional reconciliation

Fayolle explains that her drawings allow her to reconcile contradictory emotions, bringing together different perspectives on reality. She carries notebooks that reveal the behind-the-scenes of her work, and her art extends beyond the exhibition, appearing on clothing such as landscape blouses and sheets with stone patterns.

Interactive elements for children

The exhibition includes interactive elements for children, such as a screen where one can slide a head and watch animated drawings from the "Tenir tête" exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in 2024. The display culminates in a cabin covered in drawings, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in Fayolle's literary works like Petit fruit, Les Aimants, and Les Amours suspendues.