Catherine Putman Gallery is glad to present Agathe May's new exhibition: "La théorie de l'inadaptation" (Theory of inadequacy).

In her last works Agathe May talks about human relationship and communication or noncommunication system that lead our societies.
The work of Agathe May always results from an observation of the surrounding world. She is aware of the slightest detail, she draws the portrait of her relatives, draws the nature, the houses she's been living in. Joséphine (her daughter and main model for nearly 20 years) is still around, although only shadowing this time. As for the animal kingdom, it plays an important part.

The main work of the exhibition "Haute et basse-cour" is a bird cage. Joséphine, is outside the cage having her back to us, watching at the birds, as an echo of the artist watching at the society: "I didn't want to compare the animal to the human being but rather have a better understanding of human society by watching the animal kingdom"*. The bird cage stands as a metaphor of the world of human beings.
Seeing, watching is the starting point of Agathe May's work, which begins with drawing before finding its final shape in engraving. Agathe May is inviting us to watch. To take the time to watch, meaning getting some distance is steady in her work. Therefore, she offers images with a great descriptive accuracy (highlighted by the large size of her works) and suggestive titles: "Haute et basse-cour" (Farmyard animals), "Un monde en profondeur" (A world in depth).

The works presented during her previous exhibition at the gallery** were inviting us to meditation, Agathe May is now urging us to take the time to watch carefully in a world where everything is going so fast, where the balance of power dominates, where, according to her own words, "everything is so fragile". This temporality suits her well and matches her artistic practice.

Everything starts by the drawing, the observation drawing at the Jardin des Plantes, in her parents' house, in the living room, the stairs, then; it has to be translated on woodcuts through the final gesture of engraving. "Engraving is a sea journey on a boat we've just built until the arrival in port; and we know that engraving doesn't stand bad weather (reworking)!"*** Agathe May works on wood plates, incising and inking them with painting, creating a unique piece of art in each impression. This demanding technique is the realization of her rich and unique work.

*Agathe May in the interview led by Rainer Michael Mason from Dec. 10, 2013 to Feb. 18, 2014, printed in the catalog "La théorie de l'inadaptation", 2014.
** Catherine Putman Gallery "Ils s'y brûlent les ailes", May 13 to Jul. 13, 2011
*** Agathe May in the interview led by Rainer Michaël Mason from Dec. 10, 2013 to Feb. 18, 2014, printed in the catalog "La théorie de l'inadaptation", 2014.