Seeing Beyond Form: Hervé Conan’s First International Exhibition Comes to Kuala Lumpur
French artist Hervé Conan brings his evocative body of work to Alliance Française in KL this May, marking his first-ever international showcase with a month-long exhibition exploring the tension between form and perception.
For over five decades, Hervé Conan has cultivated a quiet mastery of artistic expression in both painting and sculpture. Now, for the first time beyond his native France, his work will be exhibited to international audiences at Alliance Française de Kuala Lumpur from 13 May to 13 June.
Born in Saint-Brieuc in 1947 and a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Rennes, Hervé trained under acclaimed sculptor Francis Pellerin, whose influence helped shape the early foundation of his creative language. Settling in Nantes, he spent many years balancing his role as an art teacher with the evolution of his personal artistic journey. Today, Hervé works from his studio in Touraine, exhibiting widely across France and, with this exhibition, making his first step onto the international stage.
Hervé’s practice spans several disciplines, with works in charcoal, watercolour, and pastel, and sculptures in crystal and bronze. His artistic vision is rooted in a deep sensitivity to the natural world and the intangible layers of human perception. His approach invites viewers to look beyond the tangible — to explore what lies beneath or within the familiar.
“My aim is to enable the viewer to see beyond appearances,” Hervé says. “The image of the mineral, the organic, or any other element opens onto a more abstract reality of our inner life. Lines, colours, and shapes interact in a universe of emotions and vibrations, finding meaning through the eyes of the viewer.”
His works reflect a thoughtful interplay between structure and spirit, offering viewers the opportunity to experience form not as a finality, but as a gateway to emotion, abstraction, and personal reflection.
The exhibition at Alliance Française offers a rare chance for Malaysian audiences to experience the world of an artist who believes that the truth of art lies not in what is shown, but in what is evoked.
Hervé Conan’s solo exhibition runs from 13 May to 13 June 2025 at Alliance Française de Kuala Lumpur, located at 15 Lorong Gurney, Off Jalan Semarak, 54100 Kuala Lumpur.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm. | Admission is free.
For more information, visit www.alliancefrancaise.org.my.
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