Christian Halna du Fretay’s The Shore of the Muses is a captivating shikishi artwork figurative abstraction that blends collage, acrylic, and pencil on Arches heavy paper, expertly mounted on a traditional Japanese shikishi. This piece exemplifies his distinctive approach to layering textures and colors, creating a landscape that is both abstract and evocative.
Through a rich interplay of fragmented shapes and expressive strokes, Halna du Fretay constructs a terrain that oscillates between reality and imagination. The collaged elements introduce a tactile depth, seamlessly integrated with gestural acrylic washes and delicate pencil work. The earthy hues—punctuated by fiery bursts of red and orange—suggest a landscape illuminated by an internal glow, as if the muses themselves had left their imprint on the land.
The use of Arches paper, known for its strength and fine texture, allows for an intricate dialogue between the materials, while the shikishi mounting enhances the artwork’s presence, linking Western artistic techniques with Japanese traditions. This shikishi artwork figurative abstraction invites contemplation, drawing the viewer into its layered depths and whispering stories of inspiration and poetic landscapes.
"The Shore of the Muses" - Shikishi artwork Figurative abstraction
Original one-of-a-kind artwork by Christian Halna du Fretay.
Collage, acrylique, pencil on Arches heavy paper mounted 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".
