Pol Taburet: The Burden of Papa Tonnerre

About

In his first solo exhibition in Germany, Pol Taburet (b. 1997, France) presents new paintings, bronze sculptures, and a specially designed scenography at Schinkel Pavillon. Taburet’s work explores themes of transformation, identity, and the interplay between light and shadow. His distinctive visual language combines influences from classical painting, surrealism, and symbolism, resulting in hybrid figures that exist in an ambiguous, in-between state.

The architecture of Schinkel Pavillon, which is enclosed on the ground floor but opens into a glass-walled space above, mirrors the contrasts present in Taburet’s work—between interior and exterior, concealment and revelation. His paintings depict creatures merging human and animal characteristics, rendered with a mix of airbrushed gradients and precise brushstrokes. These figures oscillate between presence and absence, reflecting his interest in shifting identities and psychological states. Alongside his paintings, the exhibition features bronze sculptures that bring his pictorial subjects into three-dimensional space, reinforcing themes of metamorphosis and duality.

At the heart of the exhibition lies the legend of Papa Tonnerre, a mute figure burdened with the secrets of others. In his silence, he becomes the village’s confessor, carrying the weight of desires, vices, and fears on his body. Seeking release, he strikes a deal with a witch, gaining speech in exchange for a set of stolen relics: a bell, a trumpet, a beast-headed vial, and some pepper. But his newfound voice leads to his downfall—overcome by rage, he betrays those who once trusted him, unleashing their darkest truths upon the world. His punishment is exile, condemned to speak forever into the void, never to be heard again.