Headless flying birds, faces composed of miniature soldiers, one-legged children, a suicidal mouse hanging from the leg of an elephant, and Saturn, as in Goya's time, devouring his children, transmuted into a wreath of colours... Quoting Godard, Raphaëlle Ricol says: "24 frames per second correspond to 24 truths per second."
Once seen, a painting by Raphaëlle Ricol can never be forgotten. It talks about the world with great force and impertinence, with some distance, but also with humour.

A keen reader of comics, but also a painting enthusiast, Raphaëlle Ricol creates with the techniques of today: she paints with acrylic, in quick strokes, gives volume to the picture with backed fabric, incorporates figurines or objects, sprays her own paintings as a graffiti artist would attack a grey wall ...
As one would expect, this confrontation with the canvas is a way to face reality, to get even with it. Indeed, Raphaëlle Ricol knows that this is the major criticism against her: "It's hard, it’s tough for a painting ...” To which she retorts: "It's much tougher outside! "

Polad-Hardouin gallery showcases a series of new paintings by Raphaëlle Ricol under the poetic title "Don’t cry for bees."
"I chose this title," says Raphaëlle Ricol, “with the idea of taking some distance from the exhibition and the works presented. There is certainly some cynicism in the title. But no lies, even though the aim is somewhat ironic."
This is her way of questioning artistic practice, with great insight and modesty: "The term ‘creation’ won’t do. Everything was already created. We should rather speak of transformation, of transmutation."

It is also a way to position herself in the landscape of contemporary art. At a time in which some artists advocate destruction, she warns: "Artists should not be to quick in destroying to create: the problem is how far you can go, how far can limits be overstepped. "
By developing such a personal writing, with no taboos, Raphaëlle Ricol establishes herself as one of the strongest talents of this new generation of painters. She is a conqueror: through her painting, she builds her own territory.