Title: Midnight in Montmartre (lovematter)

Artist: Patricia Kluwe Derderian

Year Completed: 2022

Medium: Acrylic and charcoal on wrapped canvas

Dimensions Inches (HxWxD): 48x48x1.5

Shipping from: US

Additional Information:

Part of my Travel Series that I am calling (lovematter). They explore huge moments in life that changed the way I see the world. I think many people will relate to that. The title of the series plays with the name of the substance dark matter, which was the name of artist Jason Hackenwerth's amazing exhibit at Creative Pinellas in 2022, that left me inspired to think about it and apply it in my own context.

The painting called Midnight in Montmartre (lovematter) is a collection of memories and feelings of the day/week when my husband proposed to me in Paris during a very interesting and unexpected trip. It is impregnated with the ambience and symbols that connect me back to that night and the way it changed our lives.

-The space around the Basilica of Sacre Coeur was unusually empty that night as we walked around Montmartre. It was a beautiful night with the Paris skyline glowing on our left. We danced a salsa without music and he kneeled (something that got me very surprised, happy and uncomfortable). He asked if I wanted to be his fiance and after I meowed, -yes, literally- we danced. That's when this lady came towards us dancing and skipping. She gave us her hands and we started jumping around like if we were playing a child's circle game.
Like nothing weird had just happened, we then wandered around until we stopped at this little bar/restaurant with live music and ordered some champagne. At that moment, the group started playing the Brazilian song I grew up listening to my father play on the guitar called "O Pato" from Joao Gilberto. It was a very mystical special night. -

Artist Statement:

I have always loved to walk to places. I would find as many ways as I could to stroll from one place to another even if I had to just move to the opposite sidewalk, just for a different and exciting new perspective. Later on, I majored in architecture and thought a lot about our cities, buildings and spaces and the way they induce us into using and interacting in certain ways. And that, in its hand, dictates - or at least hints - our perception and feelings. It all fascinates me.
Through my paintings I explore memories and feelings connected to these spaces and the people that were a part of that unique moment in time, co-creators of my own life. These crucial moments that for many reasons - some obvious, some, weird and unknown- are still now dancing in my mind, living with their own lines, colors and rhythm.

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