… Oltre
Following the great success of Figures Contemporaines at the Institut du monde arabe–Tourcoing, Fares Cachoux is presenting, together with the MAGMA Museum, the first retrospective in Italy dedicated to Fares Cachoux. As the exhibition’s independent curator, I have conceived a journey through a series of thematic spaces, tracing the artist’s practice, which engages with both universal issues and subjects rooted in the Arab world, including the Syrian Revolution and the EYE to EYE series. The works on display offer visitors an opportunity to connect with this part of the world and deepen their understanding of its history and complexities. The female figure holds a central place in the exhibition, reflecting its enduring prominence in Cachoux’s practice.
Fares Cachoux is a deeply committed artist, but above all, a free one. What distinguishes his work is the freedom with which he addresses issues that concern us all: the environmental crisis, racism and immigration, without offering ready-made answers or imposing a predetermined message. His art neither instructs nor manipulates; it confronts us with reality and invites reflection. It is art born of necessity, expressing a shared sense of urgency and a need to confront unease and search for meaning. Profoundly contemporary in its resonance, his work opens up space for awareness and thought.
A striking contrast emerges in his use of colour: vibrant, luminous and at times even joyful. This chromatic intensity becomes a gateway to subjects that can be painful and complex, such as the Syrian Revolution. At first glance, the works may appear visually seductive, but closer consideration reveals how colour moves beyond the purely aesthetic, drawing viewers in and enabling them to engage with difficult realities they might otherwise turn away from.
To look at Cachoux’s works is to accept an invitation to go beyond appearances: beyond colour, beyond the veil, beyond immediate beauty. These images engage both our intellect and our emotions, encouraging us to move beyond the boundaries within ourselves and question our certainties and values. The exhibition becomes a journey towards greater awareness, an invitation to embrace change and recognise that every transformation begins with the courage to go “beyond”.
I chose the title …OLTRE, meaning “Beyond”, for precisely this reason. It suggests not only crossing a threshold, but also a profound transformation, a movement towards deeper understanding. Through these works, we discover how what seems distant is, in fact, intimately connected to us. It is a journey of encounter, an opportunity to recognise a part of ourselves in others and to look beyond prejudice and appearances towards what is essential. Here, art reveals itself as a bridge, a shared language and a universal refuge.
Cristina Falco
Exhibition Curator
Exhibition Curator