“The art of Valérie Honnart can only be understood under the light of the cross-cultural influences she has found far from her own country: in China and in Italy. From China she is fascinated by the landscapes, martial art, the art of the breath, the use of inks, the sense of the long preparation of the elements constituting an opera. From Italy she keeps the sense of sensuality of body in motion, of their illumination through and in light. As a consequence she paints bodies as landscapes faraway and close.”

– Claude Mollard

Foreword

“Merging European classicism and Chinese traditionalism, Honnart uses ink wash like oil paint to sculpt solid figures out of silken line. The result is evocative; powerful. Chinese pigments and Italian chiaroscuro combine to form an Asian Renaissance that never existed. Following the success of her solo exhibitions in Italy & France 2010/11, the Elisabeth de Brabant Art Center presents Valérie Honnart's new series of inks on silk in a solo exhibition “From the Well”, opening May 12, 2011 in the Art Center Annexe.”

– Elisabeth de Brabant

About the Artist

Born in France in 1966, Valérie Honnart has travelled a lot in China, lived in Hong Kong, and in Rome. She has studied Chinese Painting at the Chinese University in Hong Kong and engraving, frescoes and antique techniques at the Institute of Fine Arts in Rome. Her inspiration is the result of these cross-cultural influences. Honnart studied at the Institute of Political Sciences in Paris and has a Master of Communication from the École Supérieure de Commerce in Paris. The artist currently resides in Paris.