Oil on cardboard – 13 x 9,5 inch – Unique work

Once upon a time, on the Place de la Concorde, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, there were two fountains. Located on either side of the Concorde obelisk, there is the Fountain of the Rivers to the north and the Fountain of the Seas to the south.

I chose the Fountain of the Seas, in cast iron gilded in some of the most symbolic parts. It has six huge figures representing the ocean, the Mediterranean, the fishing of fish, of corals, pearls and shells. Swans mingle with three geniuses symbolizing maritime navigation, trade and astronomy.

A detail of all this dreamlike set challenged me with a very alive Eiffel Tower in the background. What’s going on under those thousands of drops of water? Or maybe some pretty snowflakes? No way, in this season the cold has not yet taken up residence among us. ?

A breath of fresh air, thirst-quenching droplets, nothing better to bring a bit of well-being to people around this miraculous fountain. It’s so hot outside and so cold inside. Still, it feels like anything can happen. It is as if the dream had joined my reality, our reality, basically the reality of each of us. And if I looked my eyes, my face and my whole body into this bottomless receptacle. Maybe I would find myself in a parallel world.

A world where everything would be life, truth, authenticity. Only the present moment would really matter. The past ? The future ? None of that would matter. The language would be outdated, the words useless. Instinct would be our only guide… Oh my god, I’m getting carried away!

I take my whole body, my face, my eyes out of this spell. A shiver runs through me. I cling to the edges of the basin. I am dazed but conscious. Was it a dream? A reality ? Never mind, time goes by, passes by, passes away. Night comes slowly, imperceptibly, giving the fountain a completely different view of itself. Should I stay to find out? Experiment something different again, or not! It’s getting really late, I can’t make up my mind.

I leave the place, a little disappointed, to be honest. But tomorrow is another day and I will definitely be back for another adventure. My eyes get lost among the droplets.