WENDY SYLVAIN INTRODUCES HERSELF TO THE PARISIAN PUBLIC WITH THE EXHIBITION “EAT MY SWEAT AND MY JOYS”, IN WHICH SHE PRESENTS RECENT SERIES OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN POP UP GALLERY, IN PARIS.
THE TITLE OF THE EXHIBITION REFERS TO HER PASSION FOR DRAWING AND HER WISH TO MAKE PEOPLE THINK, TO CONSOLE, TO AMUSE AND LET THE SPECTATORS GO IN BETTER CONDITION
THAN THEY ARRIVED.
EXHIBITION POSTER
UNMEI
« UNMEI » MEANS « DESTINY » IN JAPANESE. INSPIRED BY JAPANESE ENGRAVINGS, THIS ILLUSTRATION MARKS THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN JAPANESE WRITING AND HER DRAWINGS.
LIKE A LUCKY CHARM, THE ILLUSTRATION SYMBOLIZES HER WISH TO SEE HER NATURAL FRIZZY HAIR GROW AND HER ATTEMPT TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH.
SHE COMPARES HAIR GROWTH TO PLANT GROWTH AND CREATES AN ORGANIC, DETAILED ILLUSTRATION, LIKE A TAROT CARD. IT IS WRITTEN IN JAPANESE « SUN, WATER, GROW MY HAIR, RAIN AND NEW MOON ».
LUCKY CHARMS
WENDY SYLVAIN PRESENTS HER CONNECTION TO JAPAN AND ADDS A SPIRITUAL DIMENSION TO HER WORK, AS IN
« LUCKY CHARMS » : MANIFESTATION, HORSESHOE, HELP FROM THE UNIVERSE, WHAT IF LUCK COULD BE DRUNK IN A BOTTLE ?
FUN’IKI TOKYO/ TOKYO’S ATMOSPHERE
IN THE STYLE OF THE SHORT STORIES SHE WRITES, THE ILLUSTRATOR NARRATES A FAILED ROMANTIC ENCOUNTER AT SHINJUKU STATION AND SHE ALSO ATTEMPTS TO CAPTURE THE ATMOSPHERE OF TOKYO.
JOUZU DESU NE
« YOUR JAPANESE IS SO GOOD ! », A SENTENCE REPEATED BY THE JAPANESE WHEN A FOREIGNER DARES TO EXPRESS HIMSELF IN JAPANESE. BEHIND THIS ENCOURAGEMENT REIGNS A CLIMATE OF CONFUSION, BECAUSE :
1) EVEN A SIMPLE « HELLO » IS ANSWERED WITH AN ENTHUSIASTIC « JOUZU DESU NE »
2) FOREIGNERS WHO MASTER THE JAPANESE LANGUAGE NO LONGER HEAR THIS SENTENCE.
THE ILLUSTRATOR IS AMUSED BY THIS SITUATION TO WHICH MANY FOREIGNERS CAN IDENTIFY AND QUESTIONS HER MASTERY OF JAPANESE, IS WRITTEN ON THE ILLUSTRATION « I HAVE BEEN STUDYING JAPANESE FOR TEN YEARS, BUT I AM STILL TOLD « JOUZU DESU NE ! »
MANIFESTATION
TOKYO KISSATEN BREAK UP STORY
THREE SCENES, ONE PLACE, THE FAMOUS COFFEE SHOP
« TOKYO KISSATEN BREAK UP STORY »
WHERE HEART AND CUP BREAK AT THE SAME TIME.
THE SECRET GARDEN I & II
WITHOUT TEXT THIS TIME, THE ILLUSTRATOR WANTS TO CREATE IMAGES THAT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
WHAT COULD BE GOING ON IN THIS SECRET GARDEN ?
MYSTERIOUS BIRTHS
SUNNY LUCKY AFTERNOON
WITH HER CONCEPT OF AN ILLUSTRATION AS A LUCKY CHARM, WENDY SYLVAIN MANIFESTS HER PERFECT SUMMER : SEASIDE, LUCK, HOLIDAY LOVE, COCONUT COCKTAIL AND FINALLY, HEALING. FINALLY, SHE CAN SWIN !
SHIGOTO SUMMER
« SHIGOTO » MEANS « A JOB » IN JAPANESE. THE ILLUSTRATION TELLS WITH HUMOR, TOXIC PRODUCTIVITY AND THE « HUSTLE CULTURE », CELEBRATED IN OUR SOCIETIES, WHICH LEADS US TO STAY CONNECTED TO OUR JOBS, EVEN ON VACATION ON THE BEACH.
HER KITTEN
A YOUNG MAN (THE ONE WHO IS NAKED) SINGS ABOUT THE LOVE HE HAS FOR HIS NEW GIRLFRIEND (THE ONE WHO DOES THE HULA HOOP), UNDER THE DISAPPROVING GAZE OF HIS EXES, WHO DON’T UNDERSTAND WHERE ALL THIS ENTHUSIASM COMES FROM. « I MEAN, WHY ARE YOU IN LOVE WITH HER ? » WELL, THE ANSWER IS CRYSTAL CLEAR : HE LOVES HER KITTEN...
KIKI-CHAN IN THE PARK
ITS TITLE, WHICH IN JAPANESE BECOMES “ KIKI-CHAN’S HUSBAND ”, IS AS EVOCATIVE AS THE TEXT THAT ACCOMPANIES IT : « IN THE MUNICIPAL PARK, KIKI WAS LOOKING FOR A HUSBAND. WITH HIGH HEELS, SHE WAS WALKING HER DOG, DYDY. BOTH WERE LOOKING AROUND TO FIND « THE ONE ». EVERY LEAF LOOKS LIKE A FACE KIKI THAT DAY. »
NEW MOON MOOD
