Gäelle Choisne: Temple of Love. Cœur

The latest chapter in Gaëlle Choisne’s ongoing project “Temple of Love” (2018 – ongoing) debuts in Venice. The exhibition marks the conclusion of the French artist’s research and production residency at Scuola Piccola Zattere.

Taking inspiration from Roland Barthes’ renowned text “Frammenti di un discorso amoroso”, the artist constructs a progressive, ever-evolving narrative that gives form to spaces of coexistence and collaboration, hospitality and care.

This chapter of the project focuses on Haiti, the country of the artist’s mother’s origin. It weaves a rich, generative dialogue of love between her own works and a selection of pieces from the Haitian movement Saint-Soleil, drawn from the collection of French writer and documentarian Jean-Marie Drot.

Inspired by the paintings of Haitian artists—who, through a language imbued with mystical symbolism, portray scenes of daily life and collective ritual—Choisne has created a series of new works, including sculptures and installations. These articulate the deep connection between home and heart, shaping an architecture of welcome and devotion.