Nymphée bleu, suite Selva

Wood, cardboard, colored paper, pigments, various materials
104 x 85 x 22 cm

Full of poetry, this work by Eva Jospin evokes a nymphaeum—that is, a sanctuary dedicated to the Nymphs (water deities) in Greek mythology. For the Romans, the nymphaeum was a richly decorated fountain around which people would gather. By extension, the term came to refer to a kind of natural or artificial grotto containing a water source, particularly popular in the 16th century when the Renaissance rediscovered antiquity. This sculpture thus draws upon a multitude of references present in the artist’s practice: history, architecture, scenography, landscape, as well as fairy tales and legends. Meticulously crafted with successive layers of cardboard (Jospin’s material of choice for over fifteen years), Nymphée bleu inspires contemplation. The work entered the RAJA Contemporary Art Collection in 2024, following a joint patronage initiative by RAJA France, Mondoffice, and RAJAPACK Italy in support of the production of Eva Jospin’s exhibition Selva at the Fortuny Museum (Venice), held in parallel with the 60th edition of the Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art.