FABULA OBSCURA
AN EXPLORATION OF SEXUAL LIBERATION FROM THE HEART OF AFRICA
Fabula Obscura means 'Dark Story'. In Stefan Marcel Gerard’s latest collection, he untangles the generational wound of sexual shame. A wound that effects him, still. An important incident led to the reveal of a dark family secret that involved the catholic church. It changed his relationship to mother, his grandmother, and most importantly himself forever.
The banishment out of the Garden of Eden is historically portrayed as a divine punishment. The artist takes an alternative route and shows us how the forced exile can be seen as a liberation from the shackles of sexual shame.
In a stroke of beauty, he captures the sensual mood in great detail. Xavier and Vanessa, both from the Congo, take the role of Adam and Eve in a revolutionary twist of Genesis.
ACT I: PARADISE
'THE LORD GOD MADE ALL KINDS OF TREES -
TREES THAT WERE PLEASING TO THE EYE'
GENESIS 2:8
ACT I. Voyeur II
100x70 (1/12) € 2.993,-
130x91 (1/9) € 4.993,-
160x112 (1/6) € 6.993,-
ACT I. Axis Mundi I
160x112 (1/6) € 6.993,-
ACT I. Axis Mundi II
160x112 (1/6) € 6.993,-
180x125 (1/3) € 11.993,-
ACT I. Voyeur I
100x70 (1/12) € 2.993,-
130x91 (1/9) € 4.993,-
160x112 (1/6) € 6.993,-
All prices exclude VAT and transportation costs. Please enquire for availability here.
A behind the scenes shot of ACT I. Voyeur I of the FABULA OBSCURA Collection.
ACT II: TEMPTATION
'FOR GOD KNOWS THAT WHEN YOU EAT FROM IT
YOUR EYES WILL BE OPENED’
GENESIS 3:4
ACT II. Pierce
130x91 (1/9) € 4.993,
160x112 (1/6) € 6.993,-
180x126 (1/3) € 11.993,-
ACT II. Aftermath
160x112 (1/6) € 6.993,-
ACT II. Fruit
100x70 (1/12) € 2.993,-
160x112 (1/6) € 6.993,-
ACT II. Unveil
100x70 (1/12) € 2.993,-
130x91 (1/9) € 4.993,-
160x112 (1/6) € 6.993,-
All prices exclude VAT and transportation costs. Please enquire for availability here.
Photography artist Stefan Gerard and his team on set, in a behind the scene shot for ACT II: Pierce.
THE TRINITY EXPOSITION
The Fabula Obscura Trinity exposition was the exclusive South African launch of Fabula Obscura at the esteemed Athletic & Social Club on the shores of Cape Town.
'IT IS THE ONLY COLLECTION THAT
SOLD OUT ON OPENING NIGHT'
Athos, the founder of Athletic and Social remarks 'Stefan incited a lot of enthusiasm with his proposal for the South African launch of FABULA OBSCURA at our venue. At first I was sceptic. It was our first art exhibition since our inception several years ago. But that changed quickly. It is the only collection that sold out on an opening night.'
ACT III. SEDUCTION
''YOU WILL NOT CERTAINLY DIE,'
THE SERPENT SAID'
GENESIS 3:4
ACT III. Throne
130x91 (1/9) € 4.993,-
160x112 (1/6) € 6.993,-
180x126 (1/3) € 11.993,-
ACT III. Dwell
160x112 (1/6) € 6.993,-
ACT III. Shame
100x70 (1/12) € 2.993,-
130x91 (1/9) € 4.993,-
ACT III. Struggle
100x70 (1/12) € 2.993,-
130x91 (1/9) € 4.993,-
160x112 (1/6) € 6.993,-
All prices exclude VAT and transportation costs. Please enquire for availability here.
The creation of the FABULA OBSCURA Collection involved a big struggle that included buying new shoes.
BROUT HALL OF SHAME
Ton Keunen, the CEO of BROUT, a leadership institute in Maarssen, the Netherlands, chose the FABULA OBSCURA Collection as part of his new interior for the Oval - the executive office of a 17th century castle on the shores of de Vecht.
'IT CHANGED THE WAY I INTERACT
WITH MY CLIENTS.'
'In our line of work of leadership training, shame is often the biggest obstacle. I wanted to make a point that shame can be a beautiful thing as long as it is out there. I commissioned the artist to make a selection out of his collection for the BROUT Hall of Shame. Due to the symbolic power of the collection, it changed the way I interact with clients here in my office.'
ACT IV.
'THE MAN HAS NOW BECOME LIKE ONE OF US,
KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL.'
GENESIS 3:21
ACT IV. Past and Future
100x70 (1/12) € 2.993,-
160x112 (1/6) € 6.993,-
180x126 (1/3) € 11.993,-
ACT IV. Salvation
160x112 (1/6) € 6.993,-
180x126 (1/3) € 11.993,-
ACT IV. Metamorphosis
100x70 (1/12) € 2.993,-
ACT IV. Sunkissed
130x91 (1/9) € 4.993,-
160x112 (1/6) € 6.993,-
180x126 (1/3) € 11.993,-
All prices exclude VAT and transportation costs. Please enquire for availability here.
The artist taking his final shot - barely in time before sunset.
SPECIFICATIONS
Please inquire for the availablity and size of the artworks below.
The goal of collecting a Gerard is to gift it to the next generation - in original state. This is why all artworks are delivered according to the highest standards. Each artwork comes professionally framed in grade 1 walnut wooden frame. Each limited work is printed on Hahnemule 100% cotton paper to create a crafty, matt - yet deep colour profile.
THE GOAL OF COLLECTING A GERARD IS TO GIFT IT
TO THE NEXT GENERATION - IN ORIGINAL STATE.
To protect the paper from wrinkling over decades, it is attached to an aluminium surface. In addition, all artworks come with UV-protective museum glass which is galvanised on both sides during framing, to stop dust from accumulating over time.
THE COLLECTORS DINNER
The Collectors Dinner is the first of its kind, held at the esteemed Sofitel Legend the Grand in Amsterdam, in collaboration with press agency Dutch Global Media and Macallen Wisky. The dinner combined the power of first class wining and dining in a candlelight setting - with the vulnerability of storytelling - and the excitement of a reveal party.
'IT IS IN HIDING OUR SHAME, WE FEED IT.
IT IS IN SHARING OUR SHAME, IT EXPIRES.'
A quote from the artist best describe the setting.
'As I utter my final words and reveal my last artwork, the lights go on. In front of me are 33 people staring at me with open eyes, clapping, in celebration of courage. The willingness to be your whole - imperfect - self. At that moment we all gain a collective truth, the truth that has made itself so apparent that evening.
It is in hiding our shame, we feed it. It is in sharing our shame, it expires.'
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Stefan (1989) is a Photography Artist. He moved to Buenos Aires at an early age, where he got infected by the blend of European chic and Latin sensualness, a trait still clearly visible in his signature today.
Stefan's limited edition prints are inspired by Renaissance's greatest painters, Rubens and Caravaggio, who were able to tell a story on a - single - canvas. His work is subject to the Human Condition including timeless archetypical truths such as belonging, esteem, anger and hope. His collections are celebrated for its cinematic aesthetic.
'I AM HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY CARL JUNG AND
THE IDEA OF THE COLLECTIVE UNCONSCIOUSNESS.'
I am heavily influenced by Carl Jung and te idea of the collective unconsciousness. It am still figuring why I do the things I do. By using photography as a medium to paint with archetypes: universal truths about the human condition. I try and explore the unconscious. These truths, in turn, helps me to explain why I act the way I act. That is true art for me.
He resides between Amsterdam and Cape Town.
WHAT IS NEXT?
BIBLICAL
BIBLICAL is Stefan Gerard's upcoming coffee table book that includes three collections inspired by Genesis. In order of first publication: HORSEMEN is based on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, FABULA OBSCURA is a retelling of the banishment out of the Garden of Eden, and THE ANATOMY OF ANGER is a tribal retelling of Cain and Abel.
The Vatican Museum. Photo courtesy of Corey Buckley at unsplash.
THE DREAM
In psychology, to heal a wound is to return to its source and give new meaning to the facts - to retell the story.
In this case, the generational wound of sexual shame dates back hundreds of years. In particular, the inception of the Vaticans dogma's. Priests have carried the weight on their shoulders for hundreds of years, needing to be superhuman to serve the institution they love.
It is easy to judge those that are judgmental. Its much harder to love them regardless.
I HAVE A DREAM, AS AN ARTIST, TO HEAL THE WOUND
AT ITS SOURCE - WITH A FABULA OBSCURA EXPOSITION
AT THE VATICAN MUSEUM.
If we stand too long
in the shadow of the tree of life,
are we receiving or giving life?
When we eat
from each others fruit,
does it make us good or evil?
If we listen
to our inner snake,
do we commit a crime?
And when we venture
out of the comfort zone of Paradise,
are we being banished, or liberated?
It have a dream. I have a dream, as an artist, to heal the wound at its source - with a FABULA OBSCURA exposition at the Vatican Museum.
IMPORTANT: if you would like to be part of this dream and you have contacts or resources that would help the artist realise the FABULA OBSCURA exposition at the Vatican Museum, please contact him directly via this link.
INQUIRE AVAILABILITY
If you would like to acquire a Gerard for your collection, please enquire our team for size and availability with the form below. All prices exclude possible VAT and transportation costs.
Prefer email? art@stefanmarcelgerard.com
THE END