The Hell Cabaret & The Elephant
"Inspired by Luna Park and the famous Cabaret de l'Enfer in Montmartre. Destroyed in 1950, it was frequented by Surrealist artists. André Breton lived just above and organized spiritualism sessions with the poet Robert Desnos in the 1920s. Among the Circus posters are hidden references to the films l'Enfer by Henry George Clouzot as well as Elephant Man and Eraserhead by David Lynch. In the window, masked children and an ironic street sign glorifying the so-called 'deserving' people." - Laurent Chéhère
The ‘Flying Houses’ photomontages of Laurent Chéhère invoke a sense of wonderment, nostalgia, and limitless imagination. Informed by creative luminaries such as Jules Verne, Hayao Miyazaki, Moebius and Robert Doisneau – among others – Laurent channels hundreds of photographic elements into fantastically creative scenes, transporting us into his dream-like world. Using the cosmopolitan neighbourhoods of Paris as inspiration, Laurent isolates buildings of the urban context and releases them from the anonymity of the street.
Works by the artist are archival inkjet prints on Hahnemühle Paper and framed in black, finished with UltraVue 70 anti-reflective glazing. The 63 x 63 inch edition (if available) is finished with oversized plexiglass.