Isa Melsheimer Metamorphosis (Jacques Couëlle) II, 2021
Ceramic, glaze
42 x 110 x 52 cm
For her solo exhibition at the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain in Nice in November 2021, Isa Melsheimer delved into the rich history of the Côte d'Azur, a territory of experimentation of modern architecture. Another major theme is the palm tree: considered today an indigenous plant and a symbol of the French Riviera. Currently, a transformation of the shoreline is under way, due to the infestation of palm trees by an insect pest, the red palm weevil. In this context, the work combines references to the groundbreaking cocoon-like structures of the French architect Jacques Couëlle and to the insect larvae devastating the landscape of the Côte d'Azur.