Flora Yukhnovich: Reimagining the Rococo at the Wallace Collection
Photo by Andrea De Santis from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/room-at-the-wallace-collection-in-manchester-london-13130038/
To watch a video to learn more about the artist’s inspiration and process and two new breathtaking works at the Wallace Gallery see here:
To see some stunning images of the works, see Victoria Miro Gallery here:
https://www.victoria-miro.com/news/2056
In the grand, gilded halls of the Wallace Collection, where the Rococo once reigned supreme, a fresh, contemporary voice has emerged. Flora Yukhnovich, a British painter whose works are both a tribute to and a reimagining of the Rococo, has taken the art world by storm. Her playful yet profound reinterpretations of this once-dismissed style are not only breathing new life into the Rococo but also inviting viewers to reconsider its significance in today’s artistic landscape.
Yukhnovich's journey into the world of Rococo began serendipitously during her MA at London’s City & Guilds. “I became much more interested in what the paint could say, how the paint itself could speak of flesh, of someone’s body or personality: capturing a likeness became much less interesting,” she recalls. However, it was her discovery of a book on Jean-Honoré Fragonard that truly set her on this path. She describes the moment as her “a-ha” revelation, captivated by a painting that was “amazingly expressive, was a play on the decorative, had a sense of humour.” This newfound passion led her to explore the sensuality, whimsy, and exuberance of Rococo, translating these elements into her own large-scale, semi-abstract oil paintings.
Her work, characterized by luminous semi-abstractions and a riot of color, catapulted Yukhnovich to critical and commercial success. In 2021, one of her graduate-show pieces sold at Christie’s for a staggering £1.9 million, a clear indicator of her meteoric rise in the art world. Her contemporary take on Rococo involves melting and exploding almost-recognizable genre elements—fruit, silks, flowers, faces—into vibrant and luscious paint surfaces. As Yukhnovich herself puts it, “This work has given me permission to go back to things I loved, that gave me joy.” These joys, drawn from her childhood and eclectic tastes—ranging from Disney to Harry Potter—infuse her paintings with a sense of playful nostalgia and fantasy.
Now, in a fascinating twist of history, Yukhnovich’s works are being exhibited at the very institution where she first encountered the Rococo. At the Wallace Collection, two of her new paintings, “A World of Pure Imagination” and “Folies Bergère,” have temporarily replaced two pastoral scenes by François Boucher at the top of the grand staircase. These works, framed in ornate gilt and displayed against turquoise watered silk wallpaper, create a stunning visual dialogue with the surrounding 18th-century masterpieces.
The Wallace Collection’s director, Dr. Xavier Bray, has been instrumental in bringing Yukhnovich’s work into this historic space. For Bray, the collaboration has been a delight: “a conversation, both intellectual and visual,” he says, noting that “art historically, something is happening.” Yukhnovich, too, is thrilled by the opportunity, describing it as a “privilege to see my work in dialogue with the paintings that have inspired them for so long.”
This juxtaposition not only allows for a fresh interpretation of the Rococo but also prompts viewers to explore how this once-dismissed style can connect with contemporary sensibilities. As Yukhnovich aptly notes, “I realised that it doesn’t make sense to do anything except reference history: it’s always about finding connections.” Her work is a testament to the enduring power of art history, reinterpreted and reinvigorated for a new generation of art lovers.
Looking ahead, Yukhnovich continues to evolve her artistic practice. She is currently preparing for a show in Copenhagen, titled “Into the Woods,” which will explore women in landscape, drawing inspiration from fêtes galantes. This will be followed by her first major exhibition with Hauser & Wirth in Los Angeles, where she plans to delve deeper into a more chaotic, bacchanalian aesthetic, moving slightly away from the Rococo influences that have defined her recent work.
Yukhnovich’s rise is a remarkable story of how the past and present can intertwine to create something entirely new and exciting. Her work at the Wallace Collection not only reimagines the Rococo but also reasserts its relevance, challenging us to view this exuberant style through a contemporary lens. As Dr. Bray hopes, Yukhnovich’s paintings will open the Collection to a new generation of art lovers, inviting them to see the joys of François Boucher and his peers with fresh eyes, and perhaps, through the vibrant hues and playful forms of Flora Yukhnovich.
To read more about this installation see here:
· The Wallace Gallery: https://www.wallacecollection.org/whats-on/exhibitions-displays/flora-yukhnovich-and-francois-boucher-the-language-of-the-rococo/
· Victoria Miro - https://www.victoria-miro.com/news/2056
· FT - https://www.ft.com/content/e4c54521-9167-45cb-be23-146c5303f56d
· The Art Newspaper - https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/01/10/young-british-artist-flora-yukhnovich-to-unveil-new-works-at-wallace-collection
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