Last July, I was invited in Italy to work on two installations in the heart of the earth, 1km under the ground level and 3km deep inside.
Based on two very famous latin quote about war; “Dulce Bellum Inexpertis” and “Casus Belli”, these pieces are an open dialogue. The fight for a better world, for what we believe the best, is sometimes the worst. Where is the right balance in between progress and traditions?
Also located in a very controversial location of Italy, the famous tunnel under construction in between Turin and Lyon, my wish was to make my own experience, no political or economical, but to meet the people and bring my art as a dialogue, not a judgment against or pro.
On top of traditional painting mediums, the pieces stay inside 3 months before being unveiled. The effect of time, extreme conditions of the place and natural elements became part of the installation.

After almost two years of research and working on the “Ephemera” project, I will do an installation live at the Power Station of Art Museum in Shanghai, first government funding contemporary art museum in China. Many things will happen Oct. 1st (national Chinese day & 4th year museum anniversary).
In the morning, a 15×16 meters piece will be installed in the front square of the institution. It will be followed by the projection of the 30 min documentary just released about my work by Chinese National TV (also showing internationally). Then a talk will be organized by the museum.
Before the sunset, the museum will invite the visitors to interact with the installed artwork. Shot by a drone, this will become the largest public artwork installed by me in China.

Collaborating in China with non-profit organization called Tencent Foundation and its major media Tencent QQ (popularly known as QQ, an instant messaging software with 829 million active users). I’m back in China to work on the next step of the “Ephemera” project.

Started October 2014 as a personal research and inspiration about destructed areas, after thousands of kilometers traveled, the project amazingly reached a new level focusing on moving deeply to very undeveloped villages lost in China to bring the light on these places full of history. Also areas deserted by most of parents moving for bigger cities and jobs leaving the children behind them, a major problem of urbanization.

Thanks to a charity campaign organized, “Ephemera” will help the “left-behind children” (around 61 million in 2015) of the villages in their studies and to finish school. A major event will focus on my work and I’ll create a particular installation nationally live broadcasted and documented. The fundraising will be alive June 12th.

As an artist, it’s a major step and a first project, started from a personal inspiration, that transforms into a major legal organization with a social and economic new background.

One of the reasons I believe Art is a message of hope and changes.

To be continued…

Rise in the sky during the day, and when the night falls, it folds its wings and dies.

Every year in China entire districts in the middle of cities are totally destructed to give birth to brand new skyscrapers. Thousands of people are relocated and rehoused by the government. According to the China Academy of Building Research, annually, about 4.6 million square meters of floor space are demolished to be rebuilt.

For almost two years, starting October 2014, I traveled through different cities in China to discover those areas and bring my art face to face with the culture of the country. In a limited time before the destruction, the artworks live with the people who still stay on the ruins, and also support the labour people at the foot of the social ladder.

On these particular broken walls and locations, the result is a photographic record of a fixed time already gone in the craziness and fastness of modernization in Chinese society.

The art stands out, as a last breath, on top of ashes and dust. The dilapidated fences, the support of lower class of the society, become a new canvas. Even on broken tiles, burnt wood or over hundred-years-old dismantled bricks, the pieces exist in a world full of memories and history with a message of rebirth, hope and respect.

What adapts to the other: Environment or Humans?

The objects, iconic bottles, become a basic tool with a new use. The principle of recycling at its best.

Ludo: Duality
October 30th — November 14th

Castor Gallery is pleased to present Duality, an exhibition of new works by French artist, Ludovic Vernhet. This will be the artist’s first solo show with the gallery, featuring works of varying sizes and an installation in the lower level of the space. The artist will be in attendance for the opening reception on Friday, October 30, 2015 from 7-9 pm.

New print release with NYC Editions, called “Tulip Mania”
Edition of 50
Silkscreen, each hand finished with acrylic and spraypaint.
Size: 36 x 27 inches
Majority of the edition will be available in NY this saturday at Castor Gallery, 6 pm, first come first served, and a few online the following day through NYC Editions.
More info on www.nyceditions.com and www.castorgallery.com

FUTURAMA
Power Station of Art Museum – Shanghai
Installation on view from May 28th
Workshop for the international children’s day in China May 30th

nice video shooted by Gavin Elder for my collection capsule with japanese brand Minotaur…

Fly me to the moon
From 21 March, 2015 to 16 May, 2015

Gallery Magda Danysz, 188 Linqing Road (x Pingliang Road), Shanghai

“Fly me to the moon is an original project created by LUDO, in Shanghai, from November 2014 to March 2015, as the result of his first trip in this city. The exhibition shows together a series of works on canvas around a specific recurring pattern, sculptures and a video about his adventure in Shanghai and even the “work in progress”.

LUDO discovers Shanghai at the fall 2014 while he participates in the group show organized by the gallery beyond the walls. This experience is an important visual shock for him and at the same time a huge source of inspiration. Shanghai magnetizes him and he feels a sort of creative emergency.

Pushed by the idea to capture the movement of the city, he creates a series of canvas in which the central figure is a bee with a gas mask around which he works the matter from dusts, fragments and other elements he takes from the streets. His esthetic is close to Kiefer. Here, the gleaned elements are sublimed and the artist gives them a new energy.

For this first exhibition in Shanghai, Ludo invites us to travel and escape through his imagination.”
-Magda Danysz

Opening 21 March, 2015