Byenal Sesel 2017 - Visual artists continue with their presentations |17 November 2017

Reynald Alaguiry from Reunion Island, Zsaklin Miklos from Hungary and Jean Yves L’Onflé from Mauritius were the three visual artists who presented their works and biography on Wednesday evening at the Carrefour des Arts, Victoria. It forms part of the on-going presentations by artists from different countries taking part in the Byenal Sesel 2017 organised by the National Arts Council (NAC).

Reynald Alaguiry, who was born in 1969, has created a photographic installation – ‘Etre de Lumière’ -- with the three images at the centre of the work provisionally entitled ‘lightened’ exploring elements and elementary aspects of what it means to be human at a time of global crisis.

“The project I am presenting is a photographic triptych that revolves around the notion of sacralization in dealing with the very essence of life. My approach to the theme of the biennale – ‘In a world in crisis, what does art do?’ -- is not political or sociological but humanistic. I put into play the elements – water, earth, air – as triggers of a liberation, an elevation pushing the being to the return to its own essence. Arranged in a dark room, it is the photograph that will emerge from the light – in a world in crisis maintaining our ability to think is keeping an open breach to build or rebuild,” says Reynald.

Photographs are always records of the past and Reynald uses them to convey concepts of memory which are both intimate and inviting.

“My research has always focused on the theme of memory,” he says.

Another artist who presented her works that evening was Zsaklin Miklos. Born in 1975, she is originally from Hungary but living in Seychelles. Zsaklin has created an installation of painting, constructed in a manner which enables the viewer to approach painted canvases from the ‘outside of a small-like structure or to enter an interior sequence of paintings which guide the viewer to an inner, quite private space akin to a sanctuary or confessional’.

“The canvas communicates concepts of fear and apprehension. Anxiety is present. This figurative canvas is backed with an abstract work which prioritises texture in an ambiguous form. I have been thinking about my work. It’s all about the illusion of freedom and how art can give some remedies to this eternal contradiction,” she says.

Mauritius was also there that evening through Jean-Yves L’Onflé, born in 1978. His work for the biennal focuses upon human misery and suffering, specifically addressing the infliction of these conditions upon people who are relatively powerless and unable to cope. His main concerns lie with those affected by wars and famine across the African and Indian Ocean regions. He makes extensive use of found materials and recycles them. In a way these materials are given a new life.

“The materials that I’m using are press cuttings, old clothes, coconut fibre, driftwood, recycled paper, resin, old tongs, jewels etc. I’m not only using (new) colours in my artworks but I am also showing old stuff that have been used before,” said Jean-Yves.

The Byenal will end on Saturday November 25 with an arts award and biennal prize-giving ceremony at 6pm at the International Conference Centre (ICCS).