In a compelling solo debut in Germany, Pol Taburet harnesses the layered narratives of transformation and identity through paintings, sculptures, and immersive scenography at Berlin’s Schinkel Pavillon.
Taburet, born in 1997, deftly combines surrealism, symbolism, and classical influences, creating a space where human-animal hybrids float in states of uncertain being, articulated through a meticulous interplay of shadow and luminosity. His works occupy a realm where identity remains fluid and continuously negotiable, resisting simple classification.
The unique architecture of the Schinkel Pavillon, closed off at its base and expansively transparent above, embodies a structural dialogue between secrecy and revelation—a fitting metaphor for Taburet's thematic interests. The contrast amplifies the ambiguity of his subjects, who appear both present and absent, constructed through careful gradations of airbrush and detailed brushwork. Bronze sculptures extend this tension into three dimensions, accentuating physical forms locked in perpetual states of metamorphosis and internal conflict.
Central to the exhibition is the poignant narrative of Papa Tonnerre, an allegorical figure whose burdened silence and subsequent voice encapsulate the paradox of secrecy and disclosure. Papa Tonnerre, who begins as a mute repository of communal confessions, seeks liberation through a pact with the supernatural. However, his freedom to speak brings ruin, his truths devolving into betrayal and chaos. The legend underscores Taburet’s exploration of voice as both a liberating and destructive force, manifesting in a cautionary tale about the dangerous potential of unrestrained revelation.
Taburet's work invites introspection into the nature of secrets, the volatility of identity, and the precarious boundary between illumination and shadow. Through Papa Tonnerre, Taburet communicates the fraught power dynamics inherent in language and silence, leaving the viewer immersed in contemplation long after exiting the exhibition.
