Joyeuse Apocalypse !

Joyeuse Apocalypse ! was specifically conceived and produced by the French artist Jérôme Zonder for the spaces on the first floor of Casino Luxembourg. Drawn to and inspired by the venue's architecture and the distinctive exhibition halls, Zonder launched into the creation of an immersive exhibition which, in keeping with his artistic work, exploits the possibilities of black and white drawing with graphite pencils and charcoal, in so doing, exploring the idea of portraits and the practice of drawing, in general. Where Zonder attempts to elicit a confrontation with and physical exploration of his drawings, the Joyeuse Apocalypse ! exhibition follows this approach on the scale of the actual venue. Made up of drawings both in situ and on paper, as well as sculptural works, Joyeuse Apocalypse !  plunges us into a polygraphic environment with multiple references and where popular culture, images from the news, politics and sociological subjects meet. The motifs as a whole suggest a party – the following days or the memories which remain  – divided into five periods of time (like a Waltz), which develop in a  loop over the entire exhibition area, from floor to ceiling.  

For around 20 years, Jérôme Zonder (born in 1974 in Paris; lives and works in Paris), has been developing his virtuoso work centred around the practice of drawing which is constantly being reinvented. His work has been shown at notable solo exhibitions such as: Au Village (Lieu unique, Nantes, 2014), Fatum (Maison Rouge – Fondation Antoine de Galbert, Paris, 2015), The Dancing Room (Musée Tinguely, Bâle, 2017), Devenir traces (Château de Chambord, 2018) and Jérôme Zonder – Portraits (École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, 2019).

Since 2016, Jérôme Zonder is represented by Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris/Brussels.  

WARNING: The exhibition contains several drawings with explicit sexual content (images showing sexual practices). These drawings are not thematised during visits with schools, but they are nevertheless in the visitor's field of vision. An alternative route may be chosen, which avoids passing in front of the works in question. To do this, please contact the mediation team at reception.

Photo: Jérôme Zonder, Joyeuse Apocalypse !, exhibition view. Casino Luxembourg – Forum d'art contemporain, 2023