French "Figuration Libre" Master Robert Combas to Hold Special Exhibition at Seoul Auction

"Painting Without Rules" Opens April 10
Showcasing Raw Vitality Through Over 30 Paintings and Sculptures

Seoul Auction announced on April 9 that it will hold a special exhibition of French contemporary artist Robert Combas titled "Painting Without Rules" from April 10 to May 3 at the B4 level of the Seoul Auction Gangnam Center in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

This exhibition will showcase around 30 works by Combas, a pioneer of the French "Figuration Libre" movement.

The exhibition's title is derived from the artist's philosophy: "I do not follow any rules. Everything depends on the situation." Seoul Auction explained that this exhibition highlights Combas's world of painting, which blends elements of popular culture and everyday life such as comics, rock music, and advertising. The aim is to present the primal vitality of an artist who rejected traditional conventions, spanning from two-dimensional paintings to three-dimensional sculptures, all in one place.

At the center of the exhibition hall are works infused with musical energy. "Les musiciens en triplette...(Three Musicians...)," depicting a trio of musicians, and "La trompette en bois...(Wooden Trumpet)," featuring a child playing the trumpet, are representative pieces that showcase Combas's distinctive sense of rhythm, where painting and music intertwine. The vivid primary colors, thick black outlines, and repetitive patterns together transform the entire canvas into a stage-like scene.

The sculpture "Autoportrait a quatre jambes plus pieds (Self-portrait with Four Legs and Feet)" is also on display. The four legs support and move the artist's signature, creating a form that three-dimensionally expresses Combas's signature kitsch and wit. Lines that once writhed on flat surfaces now gain volume in real space, evoking a sense of living movement.

Robert Combas led the French Figuration Libre movement in the 1980s, standing in opposition to minimalism and conceptual art of the 1970s. Since his first solo exhibition in 1980, he has held shows at institutions such as the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris and the Stedelijk Museum, actively working across painting, sculpture, crafts, and music.

The exhibition is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and admission is free.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.