An invitation to rediscover the Mediterranean differently
In Hyères, artist Françoise Dedon offers a rediscovery of the Mediterranean with her exhibition "Mare Nostrum".
With her new exhibition "Mare Nostrum", Françoise Dedon invites us to rediscover the Mediterranean differently, that is to say with our eyes, but also with our memory and emotions.
The title, Mare Nostrum — "our sea" in Latin — refers to how the Romans referred to the Mediterranean. But for the artist, it is not about possession. On the contrary, she evokes a sea that connects us all, a sea that is part of our history, our daily lives, and our future too.
In her words, the Mediterranean is a living presence: it nourishes us, brings us together, and fills us with wonder. And it is this strong bond that Françoise Dedon seeks to convey through her paintings.
A soft and soothing painting
From the very first works, the visitor is immersed in a calm and luminous universe. The shapes are simple, the colors harmonious, and the compositions highly balanced. Nothing is left to chance, yet everything seems natural.
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We often find silhouettes, marine elements such as shells or coral. Yet, these elements are not just there for decoration: they tell a story, like discrete symbols.
Each painting works somewhat like a parenthesis. A memory, a dream, a moment suspended in time. We do not just look at the paintings: we project ourselves into them.
The artist says so herself: her works do not seek to reproduce reality, but to reinvent it through her emotions. The viewer is then free to see their own memories or sensations in them.
In a world where everything moves fast, Mare Nostrum offers the opposite: taking one's time. Looking, feeling, letting oneself be carried away.
The exhibition creates a peaceful, almost meditative atmosphere. It is not a spectacular experience, but rather a moment of calm, a pause.
An ode to the Mediterranean
With this series, Françoise Dedon pays tribute to the Mediterranean, to its beauty but also to its fragility. Behind the gentleness of the works, there is also a message: that of taking care of this sea which is part of us.
Françoise Dedon develops her work between France and abroad. She has notably exhibited in Paris, at the Carrousel du Louvre, as well as in China, and currently presents her works continuously in her Espace d’Art in Hyères.
Accessible to all, Mare Nostrum is an exhibition that speaks as much to the heart as to the eye. A wonderful opportunity to escape, without leaving Hyères.
Please note
Espace d’Art contemporain open to the public on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 6 avenue des Îles d’Or in Hyères.
Philippe OLIVIER (text and photos)
Article from the print edition of La Gazette du Var