It had only been exhibited for three days in the associative premises of Smile, in Argenteuil. Hanen Caroline Mestaoui saw five of her fourteen abstract works disappear overnight from Monday to Tuesday. Burglars smashed a window, covered a surveillance camera to operate quietly and take away some of the paintings on display. They left the bigger ones, probably because of their weight. These five abstract paintings, made with pigmented epoxy resin, have a value of around 3,000 euros.
“It’s a small disaster…, confides the artist, who lives in Goussainville. I’m a little upset. They came especially for the paintings. »What astonishes Hanen Caroline Mestaoui. She has exhibited before, but doesn’t have a notoriety that suggests her work is so focused. “I console myself for all this by telling myself that it is quite rewarding! They took such a risk for my works that they must have fallen in love! she adds with humor. A large format diptych was taken down but finally left on the ground. He was probably too heavy. “
“We have since secured the premises a little more”
“This is the first time this has happened to us. We have since made the premises a little more secure, ”says Muriel, manager of the Smile store, who admits to having cracked in front of the artist’s work. ” That’s wonderful. I’m at it, ”she adds of an artist who uses an unusual technique to produce abstract works that are both powerful and subtle. “I work with epoxy resin, horizontally, on wooden panels. I put pigments, I sometimes encrust semi-precious stones, gold or silver leaves. I discovered resin three years ago and fell in love with it. “
Hanen Caroline Mestaoui is also an autodidact, who however paints since childhood and which begins to make its place. Aged 37, she was able to exhibit in Tournai in Belgium, in 2019, in Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris as part of the Expo Business Art Fair. It was exhibited at Art & Art Bastille then Art Capital, at the Grand Palais in Paris, last February. “This work with resin is quite rare in France and people like it a lot. That works well. “
His other paintings are visible until January 7
Its exhibition is scheduled until January 7 in the premises of 55, avenue rue Antonin-Georges-Belin, near the town hall of Argenteuil. This Friday evening, she participated in the opening and will be present on site all day Saturday, in the old premises of the gym.
“Smile is a third place that allows people to meet and develop ideas. Smile is making babies. This is how ArgenTri was born ”confides the director of Smile, Vianney, referring to this association which recovers used objects to give them a second life by selling them at a lower cost. A solidarity recycling center. “Smile was created two and a half years ago, with the objective of developing solidarity in Argenteuil, developing animation, and facilitating exchanges,” he continues. In the 450 m2 premises, you can do your shopping in an organic store, benefit from a workspace, have a drink, participate in a stone-carving or philosophy workshop, listen to a jazz concert like the one that will take place. next December 17th.
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