Juliette Dumas: Delphes Tale

With "DELPHES TALE", Dumas explores the story of our conscious evolution in contact with the primordial intelligence alive in our Oceans, Mammals of the Delphinidae family: Dolphins.

JULIETTE DUMAS

Dolphin Dreamtime, 2020

Clay and Copper powder on paper

2.13h x 3.78w in
5.40h x 9.60w cm

JD170

Since the dawn of time, myths and legends abound about the mysterious communion between humans and dolphins. Veneered as the messengers of the Gods, their task is to communicate with the children of the Earth. They are the carriers of messages of our progress, the keepers of the “Sacred Breath of Life”, the life force of the Universe.

Installation view, Juliette Dumas Studio, Thomery France

In harmony with the waves and tides, Dolphins follow the rhythm of the Oceans, singing in their own language ballads of Freedom and Joy...

JULIETTE DUMAS

Golden Dolphin (DELPHES TALE), 2020

12K White Gold Leaf and Fresco on wood

11.85h x 11.85w x 1.38d in
30.10h x 30.10w x 3.50d cm

JD162

Apollo himself, transformed as a dolphin, guided men to the future site of the City of Delphi, were Greek Civilization was born.

Installation view, Juliette Dumas Studio, Thomery France

"Dolphin Sanctuary", Dolphin Fresco, Palace of Knossos, Crete, Late Minoan Period (ca. 1500 BC), Greek Bronze Age.

In 2017, after a memorable encounter in the British islands with a young dolphin and his mother, Dumas travelled to Mexico and Guadeloupe to spend more time with cetaceans, underwater and on boats. Back in New York, Dumas started working with deep layers of clays and pigments which gave birth to her critically acclaimed series of "Whale Fluke Paintings" (2018-2019).

Dumas returned to France in 2019 and began work on "DELPHES TALE". For that series she started to use gold leaf and learned the technique of fresco painting on wood panels while studying the ancient murals of Knossos, of the Minoan civilisation, where the oldest representation of dolphins in history is known.

detail of Earth Dreams (St Jacques), 2019

Clay and imitation gold leaf on wood

JULIETTE DUMAS

Earth Dreams (St Jacques), 2019

Clay and imitation gold leaf on wood

5.12h x 5.12w in
13h x 13w x 1.40d cm

JD169

(detail) JULIETTE DUMAS

Golden Dolphin (Dolphin Pod 1), 2019

Clay, Pigments and bronze powder on wood

6.57h x 6.65w in
16.70h x 16.90w x 1.30d cm

JD168

Olivia de Bergerac, in her book "The Dolphin Within", explains that Dolphins have shown scientifically to have a positive effect on humans by sharing "alpha waves", the state attained through deep meditation. They have been known to help heal autistic children, to save humans from drowning, from shark attacks, to help fishermen by spotting and rounding up schools of fish, and for being friendly and curious about humans while sharing their conscious gaze. The stories of the benevolence of dolphins towards humans abound, from the Greeks to the Dogon in Africa. Scott Taylor, in his book "Souls in the Sea", calls it the "Delphic Wave".

JULIETTE DUMAS

Whale Fluke (Gold), 2019

Clay and imitation gold leaf on wood

4.53h x 8.78w in
11.50h x 22.30w x 1.40d cm

JD165

(detail) JULIETTE DUMAS

Golden Dolphin (DELPHES TALE), 2020

12K White Gold Leaf and Fresco on wood

11.85h x 11.85w x 1.38d in
30.10h x 30.10w x 3.50d cm

JD162

"DELPHES TALE" (2020) follows Dumas critically acclaimed "Whale Flukes Paintings" (2018-2019). Dumas continues her engagement to the Rio Negro Manifesto (written by Pierre Restany in 1978) which calls for an “Art of Nature” and the expression of a planetary consciousness.

In March 2020, During COVID-19, when almost all travel had stopped, Dumas created a unique painting, which was finished on April 22, 2020, to mark the 50th Anniversary of Earth day. The title: Spiritus Terra (La Terre Respire) (The Earth Breathes).

JULIETTE DUMAS

Earth Dreams (Water), 2020

Imitation Gold Leaf, Clay & Pigments on Wood

6.77h x 9.65w in
17.20h x 24.50w x 1d cm

JD172

“Deep inside of us there is calmness. Deep inside the calmness there is love. This is what dolphins taught me." - Jacques Mayol.

Jacques Mayol (1927-2001) was a French diver and the holder of many world records in free diving. The 1988 film The Big Blue, directed by Luc Besson was inspired by his life story and that of his friend, Enzo Maiorca.

Winter 2020

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