Julien des Monstiers: Plateau XXI

“Plateau XXI” presents a new series by Julien des Monstiers, exploring the imagery of board games. The exhibition features paintings that push the boundaries of the pictorial, approaching the object itself. Drawing on the graphic language of old board games, the canvases depict winding paths, numbered squares, and emblematic figures, creating playful yet structured environments. These visual playgrounds combine characters, symbols, and settings, organised according to a logic that balances narrative with spontaneity. Bold painterly gestures and vibrant colour disrupt the apparent order, as if the game is endlessly replayed. The series reflects Johan Huizinga’s notion in Homo Ludens that play is a foundational cultural activity, encompassing ritual, experimentation, and the sacred. The paintings transform the board into a symbolic territory, inviting viewers to engage in an experience that is both visual and spiritual. Between chance and strategy, progression and accident, the works emphasise the dual nature of play and painting, where codified systems intersect with personal gestures and narrative possibilities.