Noemie Goudal: Contours of Certainty

Exhibition

Noemie Goudal Opening Photography, installation view, Victoria and Albert Museum London 2023 ©Victoria and Albert Museum London

In the enigmatic world of Noémie Goudal, the curvature of space becomes a philosophical tool, challenging our perceptions and inviting us to explore the nuanced realms of doubt and certainty. The new exhibition at Mostyn, “Contours of Certainty,” converges Goudal’s earlier works and introduces new pieces that delve into the intersections of space, viewpoint, and the ever-present spectre of doubt.

Goudal’s artistic journey has been a continuous exploration of the liminal spaces between reality and illusion, with a distinct focus on the malleability of spatial perceptions. Her iconic photographic series, such as ‘Démantèlements’ (‘Dismantling’), ‘Observatoires’ (‘Observatories’) and ‘Phoenix’, as well as the more recent performance series ‘ANIMA’, have invited viewers to question the reliability of what they see, prompting a reconsideration of the relationship between the observer and the observed.

In this exhibition, Goudal takes her viewers on a conceptual and physical journey, drawing inspiration from literary references that have punctuated her previous works. References to Italo Calvino’s ‘Invisible Cities’ and Jorge Luis Borges’s labyrinthine narratives weave through the exhibition, becoming integral threads in the rich tapestry of Goudal’s exploration of spatial and conceptual curvature.

The artworks on display, ranging from large-scale multi-layered installations integrating works in clay, to meticulously composed photographs and set-ups, invite to embrace and question at the same time conventional notions of space and perspective. Goudal’s use of architectural elements and constructed landscapes blurs the boundaries between the real and the imagined, offering a meditation on the uncertainty inherent in our perceptions.

In Contours of Certainty, visitors are invited to engage with Goudal’s work not merely as visual spectacles but as philosophical provocations. As Goudal herself has articulated in past writings, doubt is not a hindrance but a gateway to deeper understanding. Through her lens, doubt becomes a catalyst for a profound exploration of the complexities that define our understanding of the world.

This exhibition is a testament to Goudal’s mastery in transforming spaces into metaphysical realms, where curvature becomes a metaphorical tool, and doubt becomes a guiding star. Join us in traversing the contours of certainty and exploring the philosophical cosmos of Noémie Goudal.

Exhibition curated by Alfredo Cramerotti, former Director, Mostyn and Kalliopi Tsipni-Kolaza, Curator of Visual Arts, Mostyn. Kindly supported by Fluxus Art Projects and Edel Assanti.