Poesia Graciae: Marie Kovacs' exhibition at Galerie Rachel Hardouin

A most interesting blend of genres... Galerie Rachel Hardouin invites you to discover artist Marie Kovacs'exhibition, Poesia Graciae, from Thursday March 20 to Sunday March 23, 2025, as part of Printemps des Poètes. The exhibition features Indian ink and watercolor illustrations inspired by the poems of Stéphane Mallarmé, Sappho of Lesbos and Antipater of Sidon. Dance performances, music and readings are also scheduled over the four days of the exhibition. A vernissage will be held on Thursday March 20 from 5.30pm, in the presence of the artist.

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Theexhibition features thirteen original works exploring the themes of femininity, nature and suspended time. The illustrations Séraphins en pleurs, Parfum de tristesse and Bouquet d'étoiles parfées are inspired by Stéphane Mallarmé's poem Apparition. Char blanc tiré par des colombes and A son tour de souffrir refer to Ode à Aphrodite by Sappho of Lesbos. Four other works, such as Ma douce Attys and Odorante étreinte, take up extracts from the poem Attys by the same poetess, while Corinthe and Nymphe grise are inspired by Corinthe byAntipater of Sidon. Together, they create a dreamlike universe that links antiquity with a contemporary vision of visual poetry.

Marie Kovacs ' artistic approach is based on a tension between light and shadow, inspired by Pre-Raphaelite influences and the Viennese Secession. Her illustrations depict female figures anchored in an elusive temporality, evoking the suspended moment the Greeks call kairos. Her works emphasize a peaceful, assumed femininity, exploring poetry as a balance between emotion and visual form.

Alongside theexhibition, Marly Poésie and Rachel Hardouin are offering several artistic performances. Every evening from Thursday, March 20 to Saturday, March 22, from 5:30pm to 8pm, and on Sunday, March 23, from 3:30pm to 6pm, readings, concerts and dances will enrich the experience. Marie Kovacs sees this as a new opportunity to showcase her work at the crossroads of several forms of expression. Theexhibition is an invitation to discover a creation where illustration dialogues with poetry, music and movement, in an intimate setting in the heart of Paris.

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