ad vitam aeternam: Fabienne Francotte

Saskia Fernando Gallery is pleased to present Fabienne Francotte’s upcoming solo exhibition ad vitam aeternam. Unapologetic, bold, and theatrical the exhibition unravels as a passionate affair, taking the viewer into the tangled tempest of emotions which is love. Francotte explores the emotional, cultural, and mythological framing that has long shaped our imagination of love across time.

Fabienne Francotte (b.1959, Brussels. Lives and works in Colombo, Brussels, and Skopelos) explores the possibilities of fabric, metal, and clay in her engagement with the aftermath of trauma, abuse, and migratory displacement. The artist often draws from her observations and experiences of people around her, including her own—transgressing the boundaries of culture, social, and economic classes. Francotte has concerned herself with a range of social issues present in Sri Lanka, such as education, the sex industry, and religious tolerance. Francotte's training as a calligrapher is evident in her drawings, which showcase ritualistic execution, balance, and precise, controlled gestures.