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Philippe Bertho - Le Saut
The Big Jump
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Go ahead, jump. What a fun, funny and insightful man is Philippe Bertho. And what a multi-faceted artist. Each image he creates – however unique and unfamiliar at first – seems to tough a facet of ourselves that is at once both whimsical and deeply existential. Something as simple as a backdrop of big red dots becomes the context of a much deeper image. And a much more significant message. In Le Saut (The Big Jump), Bertho set up an impossible landscape of circle and colors and repeated patterns. Notice also the red dots’ along the edges many are cut off, which heightens the feeling of tension. Within this seemingly absurd world, as if running between life’s obstacles, Bertho’s figure tries to safely jump from place to place with great care and with a sense of purpose.
Perhaps by now you’ve noticed that Bertho works with specific, recurring props in the artwork. One of the most ubiquitous is the inner tube – an existentially primitive, floating and life-saving devies. In Le Saut, Bertho’s character runs with arms and legs outstreatched, trying to remain balanced, showing great dexterity. Perhaps he is trying to stay afloat. Or perhaps having mastered the obstacles, he handles them just perfectly. The ability to balance seems one of Bertho’s richest themes, and in Le Saut, the artist illustrates his character’s desire to find equilibrium in an otherwise chaotic world. We can all relate which why the image resonates.
Holding an umbrella, implying perhaps that his character is thwarting off the massive red raindrops around him, the inner tube keeps him safe for the moment. Through Berto’s artwork, the viewer is apt to imagine all sorts of possibilities as to the identity and purpose of his characters and the silly situations and scenarios in which they find themselves. And yet, true to the Bertho’s nature, there is always a twinkle in the artist’s eye, a spring in this step, and a glint of the Sprite in his approach. Bertho is a naughty boy. His characters are impish and delightful. His talent is extraordinary. We view his unique works and we are always left smiling. Wondering, thinking, considering, yes – but always smiling. And we are also always left feeling somehow connected to something much deeper, and at the same time, completely safe. So go ahead, Jump.
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