Tendrement at Semiose in Paris, France, presents the latest work of Mathieu Cherkit, a prominent figure in the contemporary French figurative scene. The exhibition features fifteen previously unseen paintings that focus entirely on the artist's home and studio, using the familiar architecture of his daily life as a playground for visual experimentation.

Cherkit rejects photography, relying instead on memory and direct observation to build his compositions. He works on specific sections of a canvas at the same time each day to capture consistent light, resulting in paintings with internal chronologies. The works often feature skewed perspectives—viewing a stove or a sink from multiple angles simultaneously—recalling the foundations of Cubism while maintaining a tactile, figurative presence.

The scale of each canvas is often determined by the physical dimensions of the object depicted, creating a singular tension between the thing and its representation. Thick layers of oil paint obscure the canvas grain, allowing Cherkit to bury hidden motifs like small animals or cards beneath the final surface. These textured domestic scenes invite visitors to reconsider the geometry and emotional weight of the spaces they inhabit.

A rewarding visit for those interested in contemporary figurative painting and how ordinary objects can be reimagined through heavy texture and shifting viewpoints.

Stand close to the canvases to appreciate the sculptural quality of the paint, then step back to see how the multiple viewpoints resolve into a single domestic scene.