Tralala goes fishingwith Ellen Turner Hall
TRALALA’s latest exhibition “Les derniers pêcheurs de Collioure” is dedicated to the work of Emile Humbert. Young and self-taught, Humbert shows remarkable talent for portraying daily life, be it at work, at play or in quiet contemplation.
The artist chronicles the activity of the last two fishermen of Collioure, the brothers Laurent and Vincent, their every gesture dedicated to keeping alive a great tradition now lost. The boats, the ropes, the nets, the gnarly arms and muscled shoulders of the men, the scaly shimmer of the fish are lovingly recorded in charcoal and oil.
Tourists colonize the sand where once fishing boats reigned. In Humbert’s beach scenes, the flotsam and jetsam of flesh, towels, parasols and plastic buoys cover the seafront, with the sun-bleached church in the background. A group of boys scale rocky cliffs. A middle-aged man contemplates the horizon. All are acutely observed, with a bit of humour thrown in, especially in the “Barque adidas et survêt’ Catalan”.
Perhaps the most dramatic example of Humbert‘s art is a night scene outside a bar. Reminiscent of Edward Hopper’s depiction of haunted loners, its simplicity and dreamlike quality fish the width and depth of the human soul.
is open 11h-13h and 16h-20h. Closed Tuesdays.
“Les derniers pêcheurs de Collioure” runs from 18 October to 30 November. Galerie Tralala, Boulevard Boramar, Collioure.
Friday 27th September 201