Christian Halna du Fretay’s "Ephemeral Moments" unfolds a poetic narrative of fleeting beauty, elegantly composed on traditional Japanese shikishi cardboard. The use of this medium, historically associated with refined calligraphy and delicate artwork, imbues the piece with a sense of cultural depth and timelessness.
The artwork juxtaposes abstraction with figurative elements, drawing the viewer into a dreamlike space. The left side is dominated by textured, vertical forms rendered in warm tones—yellows, ochres, and reds—layered to create a translucent, almost ethereal effect. These gestural strokes evoke the fleeting light of a forest, suggesting movement and impermanence. In contrast, the right side introduces a moment of stillness: a vivid parrot perched against a darkened background, surrounded by floral motifs. The parrot’s quiet yet watchful presence hints at introspection, serving as an anchor amid the dynamic interplay of colors and textures.
The shikishi cardboard enhances the delicacy of the composition, its smooth yet sturdy surface allowing for intricate layering and blending. The painting's layered translucency and subtle textures echo the Japanese aesthetic principles of wabi-sabi, celebrating the beauty found in impermanence and natural forms.
Through the harmonious contrast of the abstract and the figurative, Halna du Fretay captures the essence of transience. The vibrant yet fleeting forms dissolve into darker, quieter spaces, evoking the passage of time and the fragile, fleeting nature of moments. The choice of shikishi adds an additional layer of meaning, rooting the work in a tradition that values both artistry and impermanence.
"Ephemeral Moments" - Shikishi artwork painting - Christian Halna du Fretay
Original one-of-a-kind artwork by Christian Halna du Fretay.
Collage, acrylique, pencil on a traditional Shikishi made in Kyoto - Japanese paper mounted on a cardoard with a golden border of metallic paper.
Size : 24cm x 27cm (9.4 x 10.6 inches)
Signed "Du Fretay".
