Of this elusive, I’m an accomplice

Curated by TM Projects

December 3 - 19,  2024

Preview: December 3, 6 - 8 pm

The Art Office, 48 Chalcot Rd, London NW1 8LS

TM Projects is delighted to announce Of this elusive, I’m an accomplice, a solo exhibition of Arthur Lemonier. The show is organised in collaboration with the Art Office, an art advisory and project space based in Primrose Hill, London.

Of this elusive, I’m an accomplice is the first exhibition of Arthur Lemonier’s work in London featuring new paintings by the Paris-based artist. The raw elusive imagery of Arthur Lemonier’s portraits comes from his profound exploration of the ambiguous reality of our own bodies and emotions. For this exhibition, the artist dives into what is seen and what is lived, as if contrasts and uncertainty should be carried preciously, (un)questioning what truly resides inside. The provocative yet playful nature of this out-betweenness challenges both social and physical boundaries. It subverts our perception by portraying the characters in a way that highlights their vulnerability, transforming them into witnesses of their own duality.

In his paintings, raw emotions of fear, threat, disturbance, and pleasure intertwine and provoke an instinctive response from the viewer. Arthur invites us to embrace the discomfort and ambiguity of these emotions, putting mirrors in front of our faces. His explorations create omnipresence of an external force, the intrusion and disturbance it brings. He transcends human bodily experiences, allowing his characters to rip off the limitations of human shapes. They are not between genders, they are above this concept altogether - Arthur strives to liberate their mental and physical state completely. He masterfully depicts an impulse that attracts and repels, and a moment of raw emotion captured in each face. Small canvases serve as windows into an emotion, preserving a moment, each of them unique and enticing.

Arthur’s new exploration of body parts in ‘Recondite’ is even more precise, questioning the meaning of defining parts of ourselves that we cling on to. Arthur dissects our understanding of human physique and brings the alien quality to it through a distinct colour palette. Like thunder in the sky, the power of emotions becomes bigger than the reality we can grasp. 

Arthur Lemonier

Born in 1998, the artist lives and works in Paris, France. 

In Arthur Lemonier's work, a leitmotif persists: resisting the uncomfortable confusion. Through his expressive paintings, he deals with the contrasting essence of human emotion by striving to maintain visual ambiguity; an omnipresent versatility that necessarily leads everyone to determine a response. ‘Opposites seem to unite’, says Lemonier. The artist sees confusion not as an obstacle, but as a creative opportunity. He uses it to destabilise perceptions and open up inner dialogues. In his paintings, shapes and colours mingle, overlap and distort, creating a visual dynamic that awakens an emotional and intellectual response.

By refusing to provide simple answers or clear representations, Lemonier challenges viewers to confront their own discomforts and preconceptions. His works become a mirror of our own inner ambivalence, confronting us with fundamental questions about our understanding of identity, gender and belonging. This approach invites everyone to embrace the complexity inherent in the human experience.

TM Projects

TM Projects is a London-based art gallery and cultural platform founded by Tina Maslakova. TM Projects aims to redefine the cultural business landscape in London by representing the diversity and intellectual richness of the city's art scene. Through cross-sector collaborations, TM Projects strives to bring most value to the artistic community and its partners.

TM Projects inaugural project was part of the London Fashion Week program, followed by a notable curatorial project at the Sarabande Foundation, established by Alexander McQueen in London. With a mission to spotlight diverse and underrepresented talents, a commitment to strong ethical standards, and a foundation of international connections, TM Projects distinguishes itself among the new art galleries in London.

The Art Office

The Art Office is a gallery, art space and consultancy in the heart of London’s Primrose Hill. With clients in the workplace, residential, hospitality and public realm sectors, The Art Office uses curated art collections, installations and experiences to bring their stories to life. The Art Office Gallery showcases emerging local and international artists with solo and group shows throughout the year.

When your halo slips for good, you’ll have to wear your hood

Lee Alexander McQueen Sarabande Foundation, June 20 - 23

Private view: June 20, 6-8 pm

As Ferris Bueller said “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” I view painting as a way of documenting how I feel before I get swept up in the bustle of everyday living. This series of works moves to document, not specifically mirror, a period of my life and how I feel in this time. I’m interested in the sensitivities of feelings which I move to express in my practice, and how these feelings morph into other things, if left unobserved.

Stephen Akpo

When your halo slips for good, you’ll have to wear your hood is a solo exhibition of new work by Stephen Akpo, a British artist who employs introspection and meditative approach to express optimism and light through his work. The exhibition is a first comprehensive showcase of new paintings and sculptures created during Akpo’s residency at the Lee Alexander McQueen Sarabande Foundation, where he has chosen to explore the theme of melancholy and optimism through his creations in his time there.

The show offers viewers a journey through a range of cultural and artistic references. Being largely influenced by expressionist painters, Stephen Akpo projects feelings through semi-abstract imagery rather than depicting his own reality. The light shines through the canvas with an almost impossible quality, in an attempt to break away from the canvas’ constraints. Throughout the exhibition, Stephen Akpo uses a consistent colour palette inspired in part by Sapele, the town in Nigeria where his family originates from. Large brushstrokes create powerful, dynamic and expressive compositions which fully immerse viewers in a world created by the artist. On the opening night, the artist will be creating a new painting in situ in the centre of the room. During this performative act, the artist will intertwine paintings and sculptures with jazz music which makes a crucial impact on his artistic practice and the rhythm of his work.

The exhibition showcases Akpo's foray into sculpture, a new medium for the artist. Using clay as his chosen medium, Akpo pushes the boundaries of his artistic practice to convey emotion in three-dimensional form.

Through a deeply personal lens, Akpo meditates on his own traumas and losses, while simultaneously grappling with the imperfect nature of the world around him. Yet, amidst these challenges, Akpo's work radiates a sense of resilience and optimism. In his latest paintings, the artist offers an exploration of the interplay between light and dark, symbolising hope in the face of adversity. Each piece resonates with raw emotion and authenticity, inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences of pain, growth, and healing.

The exhibition is curated by Tina Maslakova, director of the TM Projects.