“What is painting if not above all a song of silence, a melody drawn from the heart towards the material of the canvas, like a prayer addressed to whoever is willing to hear it.”
– Simon Buret
Nil Gallery presents "The Prayers," a solo exhibition by contemporary artist Simon Buret, running from November 14, 2024 to January 12, 2025.
Simon Buret, a French-American artist trained at the Beaux-Arts in Brussels, has developed an artistic approach that emphasizes introspection and spirituality. Following the success of his musical duo AaRON, which debuted in 2004, Buret returned to his first passion, painting, in 2019 during the lockdown. By 2020, he showcased his refined and poetic pieces at the Ofr gallery in Paris, and in 2023, cemented his presence in the contemporary art world with a standout appearance at Sotheby’s Paris' special Living Contemporary auction.
"The Prayers" invites viewers into a space of contemplation and deep reflection. Through his work, Buret deconstructs the concept of the sublime, encouraging viewers to look beyond surface appearances and discover deeper, hidden meanings. In doing so, he challenges conventional notions of beauty and the taboos surrounding it, suggesting that these are veils to be lifted to access personal truths, hidden conflicts, and subtle tensions. By juxtaposing harmony with chaos, and surface with depth, Buret creates an environment for reconnecting with the sacred core within us all.
For Simon Buret, "To paint is to pray. It is to call upon the wild and the sacred to resonate in the light."
Through the works on display in "The Prayers," Buret delves into the radical nature of beauty from different angles, redefining the norms of classical painting to reveal hidden tensions and deeper meaning beneath an appearance of tranquility. This series establishes a balance between line and form, allowing each piece to be viewed on dual levels: beyond an initial impression of peace, each artwork murmurs darker truths — life impulses, desires, frustrations — that subtly weave through the composition.
During the exhibition, visitors are also invited to engage in the experience: anyone can leave a note, a thought, a prayer, or a drawing. This collaborative element, integrated into the exhibition itself, serves as a poetic and spiritual refuge in a divided world, providing a space for personal reflection that aligns with the artist’s vision.
