Chloé Quenum (France, 1983) draws inspiration from the many stories she collects around the world to create a narrative that resonates with the uniqueness of individual voices and the power of cultures that are often overlooked by official history. Her subtle gestures recompose a story that is as fragile and beautiful as the materials and craft techniques she uses. Blown glass, dyed and embroidered textiles, and calligraphic drawings that create an imaginary alphabet reveal the blind spots of history, the hidden meanings of words, and their evocative power.
For the exhibition Un Ciel intérieur, Chloé Quenum translated three words associated with Sufi spirituality—ṣūf (“wool”), safā (“clarity,” “limpidity”), and sofia (“wisdom”)—into a variation of blown-glass letters, a subtle, poetic meditation on the Farsi language. A second work consists of verses by the poet Rumi embroidered on pieces of fabric reminiscent of the patched garments worn primarily in North Africa, such as the derbala.
