AUBERVILLIERS.- The Ygrec Art Center is hosting a groundbreaking project where a group of students, recent graduates, and an alumnus from the École nationale supérieure d’arts de Paris-Cergy (ENSAPC) take on dual roles as artists and curators. This initiative challenges participants to blur the lines between artistic creation and exhibition design, fostering a dynamic dialogue and collaborative experimentation within the gallery space.

At the heart of the project lies a haunting question: Who put Bella in the Wych Elm? This infamous mystery from 1943, involving the discovery of a woman’s body in a tree in rural England, serves as a catalyst for an exploration of folk horror. The artists reinterpret this dark tradition through rituals, fire, and sacrificial imagery, crafting works that defy modern sensibilities and evoke the eerie return of pagan beliefs. Their creations leverage the unsettling aesthetic of folk horror to question societal norms, confront fears of the unknown, and provoke discussions about the transgressive power of art.

Featured Artists and Works

The exhibition showcases the work of six innovative artists whose practices span diverse media and themes:

• Mathis Collins: A Paris-based sculptor and performer, Collins explores grotesque and popular crafts, blending satire with collective workshops. His work reimagines folk art through unconventional materials and methods, as seen in previous exhibitions at venues such as the Palais de Tokyo and the Friche Belle de Mai in Marseille.

• Raphaël Delannoy: This Parisian artist merges mythological symbols with contemporary connotations in his sculptures and videos. His narratives, inspired by folklore and video games, balance satire and surrealism, creating stories that challenge traditional archetypes.

• Léontine Deslandes: A figurative painter, Deslandes employs imaginative techniques like stencils and irregular brushwork to reinterpret photographic sources. Her paintings explore the tension between representation and abstraction, as shown in recent exhibitions in Montreuil and Fontenay-sous-Bois.

• Sveva Diolaiti: Diolaiti uses wax to sculpt fragile, memory-infused installations. Her work reflects on the ephemeral nature of human experiences, blending physical remnants with metaphorical depth. She is currently pursuing her studies at ENSAPC.

• Gral: An artist-researcher, Gral investigates societal norms through photography, performance, and academic inquiry. Their work examines the gaze and its role in shaping identities and collective imaginations, showcased at the Musée de l’Homme and other prestigious venues.

• Isadora Guzniczak: Drawing from folklore and myth, Guzniczak creates hybrid sculptures and digital works that intertwine ritualistic gestures with cutting-edge technology. Her pieces challenge perceptions of identity and the intersection of the symbolic and the corporeal.

A Political and Artistic Statement

By embracing the unsettling themes of folk horror, the exhibition invites viewers to confront their fears of otherness. Through fire, masks, and fragmented time, the artists dismantle normative systems and propose a dark folklore that acts as a tool for political provocation and societal disruption.
Accessibility and Inclusion

Ygrec Art Center’s commitment to fostering emerging talent and inclusivity underscores this project’s importance. The exhibition redefines traditional gallery spaces, making them fertile ground for both artistic expression and curatorial innovation.

This collective initiative not only reimagines the boundaries of art and curation but also poses a powerful question: Why are we so afraid of a different world?