Biography
Ciou, born in Toulouse in 1981, succeeded to gain a relevant place in the world of contemporary pop art and lowbrow, at a very young age. Due to a style characterized by a line of great expressive force and a language where the power of color and deformation of shapes combine to make her stroke unmistakable. The exhibit that gave her international visibility was in 2004 at the Flux Factory in New York City . From there she went on to show in Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, Brussels, California, Portland, Rome, Berlin, Seattle with a solo show at the gallery Roq La Rue . Suspended between dream and nightmare, her paintings consist of a base made of a collage of old papers where she uses acrylic and ink, expressing a technique that brings to mind the one typical of traditional tattoo. The result pertains to an imagery overlooked by quotations from the sacred texts of any time and country, Japanese culture, radical Primitivism and Art Nouveau.Her eyes are open wide all the time.
Publications
Ciou hails from Paris, France. Her work features the admittedly well worn standard of spooky girls and their animals consorts, however Ciou’s unapologetic punk style (reminiscent of teenage notebook scrawls dialed up to 11) breathes a new brash life into the theme. Her sweet and sour heavy metal nymphs live out their wild carnivalesque fairytales on found vintage papers, taken from old medical books, dictionaries, and nature manuals. Her line-work is by turns thickly layered like decadent rocker girl eyeliner and then meticulously thin and ornate like stitchwork. Ciou has exhibited in Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Toulouse,Berlin, Los Angeles, Rome and Barcelona. This is her first US solo show.by Kirsten Anderson
« Since Ciou’s exquisite art caught our attention. Since then she delights and surprises our gallery’s audience. She Brings us highly skilled dark – but sweet! – visions that are truly inspiring and breadth taking. Everytime when her new works come in we are happy, Ciou Rules!!by KOCHBOX Gallery, AMSTERDAM
« KOCHXBOS (1e Anjeliersdwarsstrat 3) has mounted an exhibition for Ciou (France) titled « NYMPH ».The more 3D stared at her work the more is seemed familiar. However, the only artist’s name that came to mind was William Blake who is better known as a metaphysical poet of the 18th century who just happened to be an accomplished etcher as well. What is the connection? I guess it is the bizarre and unexpected nature of the imagery that related to Blake.
Even more interesting is the fact that half the show is in b/w (Blake, of course, only worked in b/w) and the other half color…and the latter work could not be more so. The colors are vibrant and sometimes ever so sweet. The b/w pen and ink drawings are whimsical in a sense where the color work comes across like a friendly nightmare. » Daniel Gould’s art critic from Amsterdam »
- » Valeur Sûre de la scène Lowbrow made in Europe, Ciou ne se contente pas d’enchaîner les expositions d’envergure internationale, elle annonce également la sortie de son premier livre d’illustration : « Chat siamois », savoureux condensé d’humour noir dont les textes habilement signés de la plume de Guillaume Bianco, épousent on ne peut mieux l’univers fantastique et délicieusement cauchemardesque de cette artiste décidement remarquable. » Alyz Tale, Elegy Magazine, Paris
» A Few years ago, two strange little nymphs- facetious, yet determined- walked into our Paris gallery and demanded that we take the step to the other side of the mirror…. to the heart of their creator’s world, a universe both dark and wonderful. any resistance would have be in vain, Ciou’s sumptuous drawings, in India ink, and the Dazzling colors of her paintings had conquered us : there was no way back, the pack was sealed » By Effi et Laurent owner of ART’s FACTORY Gallery, PARIS
« Suspended between dream and nightmare, her paintings consist of a base made of a collage of old papers where she uses acrylic and ink, expressing a technique that brings to mind the one typical of traditional tattoo. The result pertains to an imagery overlooked by quotations from the sacred texts of any time and country, Japanese culture, radical Primitivism and Art Nouveau.Charming, passionate and sometimes angry, Ciou is one of the most original and representative artist of the last years. A painter who, like few others, managed to impress on her canvas, the meaning of our time. » by the Mondo Bizzarro Gallery Rome, Italy
» Viewing Ciou’s work is akin to sipping effervescent poison - an intoxicating mixture of wonderland and nightmares. Ciou (pronounced see-you) has an uncanny knack for combining the playful innocence of youth with the deeply somber stirrings of death. Her ghoulish angels frolic amongst perky skull flowers, bat wings and happy demonic trees, all while cheerfully serving morbid demise on a gilded platter. It is arresting to view the juxtaposition of her girls, bunnies and squirrels gleefully prancing in metaphoric graveyards seemingly oblivious to their own pain and suffering. » By Stacey Ransom from Pure Bred studio, California, Usa
I was intrigued -and instantly attracted- when I discovered Ciou’s paintings and illustrations. The Toulouse-born, Paris-based, artist manages to conjure up a world that is both eerie and sensual, gentle and frightening. The richness of her work is intense and riveting. It is made of multiple layers, combining several aesthetics that have influenced her and made her the woman she is today. Ciou envisages ambiguity and ambivalence as key human traits and I don’t think anyone would disagree. Her work expresses something that we all share, regardless of our culture, social background or education. She taps into hidden energies and impulses that leave us feeling bare and exposed. In that sense, her images have a deeply human and universal quality. by Philippe Pourhashemi for Diane Pernet » Shade View of Fashion »
