Untitled, 1953, Oil on paper marouflé on Isorel

Alain Margaron has exhibited René Laubiès (1924-2006) for many decades and the last time I met the painter was at his gallery of 5 rue du Perche. This magical painter recently lived a nomadic life between India in the winter (He died alone in Mangalore) and Paris and it was always very soothing and impressive to meet him. He had the gentleness of a monk, the calm of a philosopher who had early on adopted taoism. His works are full of his inner wisdom and serenity and the search for light is inherent to all of them. Forty of his oils and drawings, painted between 1949 and 2006, are on display until July 9. 

Untitled 1988, oil on papier marouflé on canvas

His mother was the daughter of a creole family from la Réunion, with Chinese ancestors from the kingdom of Xian and he was born in Vietnam, a country he left when he turned 16. His father was a lawyer from Lozère, an agricultural area west of Aveyron. He studied law in Morocco before settling in Paris in 1949. His first exhibition was in 1952. he loved the Chinese culture which he knew well and translated poems into French.

Tondo, oil on paper 1964

His body of works has become more pure and fluid over the years, he has erased all useless effects and illustrated his life of meditation on paper. I particularly like his tondos, and there are a few new ones in this show which come directly from his nephews.

Galerie Alain Margaron with the Laubiès exhibition

Prices range from 5 000€ to 15 000€ at Galerie Alain Margaron, 5 rue du Perche in the Marais.