The Reversible Perspective

In recent years, Fanny Senocq has drawn on events from working life as a starting point for exploring group dynamics. By flipping the narrative, seemingly concrete ideas about power, hierarchy, myth-making, and the cult of genius are transformed into a unique, dynamic visual language — one that evokes Rorschach tests, but also Arcimboldo’s playfully reversible still lifes. Senocq draws inspiration from interpersonal interactions, from the hypnotic and sometimes destructive force of patterns, and from emotions that demand to be excavated.

The Upside Down series originated alongside the artist’s work as a scenographer in the performing arts. Initially, she turned to gouache on paper for practical reasons: her studio was located in the kitchen of her home, and with a small child she wished to avoid the smells and mess of oil paint. Transitioning from large canvases and oil-based media took time, but gouache gradually established itself as her preferred material, even after moving into a dedicated studio.