Ohad Tsfati, “Paper Moon”, 2018, Mulberry bark and mixed media, © Jean Louis Losi, Galerie Jeanne Bucher Jaeger

A large exhibition on  “The Moon” opens on April 3 at Grand Palais and this show at Galerie Jeanne Bucher Jaeger is a sort of prefiguration. The gallery’s historical artists Max Ernst, Miró, Mark Tobey, mix with “outsiders” like Marinette Cueco, the magician who threads vegetals, in a show dedicated to spheres in the universe. The gallery founded by Jeanne Bucher in 1925, has exhibited Vieira da Silva, Nicolas de Staël, Fernand Léger, Roger Bissière and Gérard Fromanger, who  at the moment, dialogues with Monet at Musée Marmottan.

Marinette Cueco, “Le début est partout”, 2019, Jonc épars et jonc capité – entrelacs, Courtesy Galerie Univer

Most artists shown here are true philosophers like Indian thinker Zarina (Hashmi) who concentrates on the divine light of Noor and uses gold and other metals. Also inspired by the Orient, Mark Tobey (1890-1976) and the young Portuguese artist Rui Moreira, are hanging side by side in the pretty gallery hidden in a courtyard of rue de Seine. I was fascinated by the different materials used from gold leaves to concrete, and so many kinds of papers and canvases.

A view of the show with Rui Moreira, “Machine of Entangling Landscapes VI”, 2011, and sculptures by Claude de Soria, © Grégory Copitet

But the work which struck me the most is Israeli’s Ohad Tsfati, who paints on papers he manufactures himself. Here the paper made of mulberry bark, was inspired to him by old Chinese traditions. Like the Japanese “Washi”, he humidifies the bark, dries it and colors the paper. It is fine and thick at the same time, with a definite grain, you want to feel it and it is unique in texture. His “Paper Moons” series are an echo to Zarina’s work.

Zarina, Untitled, 2016, Collage of gold leaves 22 carats and paper BFK light, mounted on paper Somerset Antique, © Jean Louis Losi, Galerie Jeanne Bucher Jaeger

There are also three sculptures by Claude de Soria, (1926-2015) in concrete and a series of paintings by Japanese artist Yamamoto Wakako. The theme of the moon is a reminder of Man’s first steps on the moon fifty years ago, already…

The lovely gallery hidden at 53 rue de Seine, ©Grégory Copitet

Galerie Jeanne Bucher Jaeger, 53 rue de Seine, in the courtyard, until May 4.