Bagnols-sur-Cèze: exhibition event in tribute to Jaber, “universal creator of happiness”

Raymond Michel is moved to once again be able to share the work of his friend Jaber, a prolific artist who died at the end of 2021. C. C. – Midi Libre

“Bizar” to be discovered at Bise’ Arts, 10 rue de l’Horloge in Bagnols, until January 27 inclusive.

The artist discovered by Jean Dubuffet was a friend of the collector Raymond Michel, now based in Bagnols. The latter presents seventeen works from his private collection, until January 27, in Bise' Arts. Opening this Friday, January 5 from 6:30 p.m.

Anne Gabella, manager of the Bise’ Arts, invites you to start the year with an exhibition event. A tribute to Jaber al-Mahjoub, known as Jaber, born in Tunisia in 1938 and died in Paris in 2021, who was discovered by Jean Dubuffet. "They drank coffee together every Thursday", recalls Raymond Michel, from Bagnolais since 2012, and linked to Jaber by forty years of friendship. This friend who was a musician, clown, poet, storyteller, painter, sculptor. His works juggle with shapes, symbols and the rhythm of colors; They are exhibited in modern art museums all over the world. "I met him in front of Beaubourg, he was singing. We remained friends, says Raymond Michel. In 1995, I created my gallery in Paris. I contacted him first, for the quality of his work. Painting was his only pleasure. His paintings were his calling card, he offered many. For my part, I have sold thousands." Some have given him the title of "master of raw art", for Raymond Michel, "he was a universal creator, he wanted to spread happiness". "Boneur" as he wrote. Self-taught, "his way of applying paint is unique", explains the adopted Bagnolais who recognizes fakes at a brief glance. The latter would have a thousand anecdotes to tell, notably meetings with personalities to whom Jaber liked to offer paintings, Chirac who was a great fan of his work, Mitterrand, Bourguiba… "Her work is nothing more than a great burst of good humor, so simple and radiant, so good-natured, so sympathetic, so full of humor, that she seems to bring to challenge the viewer or rather invite him to come… in the meadow with him, to invite him to happiness, wrote Jeanine Rivais in 2000, cited in a tribute file in the art magazine Trakt published in March 2022.

An anniversary date

"It’s magnificent, it inspires me", discovers Hervé Philippe, a singular artist, who took care this Thursday of hanging seventeen works from the private collection of Raymond Michel. "It’s superb, it continues", testifies the latter, moved. He was able to present an exhibition in 2015 thanks to the Bagnolais municipality. But since then, he has suffered refusals from "all official places". However, he keeps some unpublished material for future events in the sector. His joy lights up the room when he talks about his friend. Moreover, "to brighten it up a little", he exhibited two paintings at the 7-Sources nursing home, where he stays certain days. A resident put a pencil in one of the characters in the painting, a doctor. "So I want to get this message across: nursing homes and hospitals in general are in distress, there is a lot to improve."
The opening (and surprises) of “Hunger for Life”, the name of the exhibition, is scheduled for this Friday, January 5 from 6:30 p.m. Jaber was born on January 5, Raymond the day before. ;hellip; "We always celebrated our birthdays together." In another way, this birthday will be celebrated on January 5, 2024.

Exhibition to discover until January 27 inclusive, at Bise’Arts, 10 rue de l’Horloge in Bagnols-sur-Cèze. I subscribe to read more