The Melancholy of Gris and Folon
Masterpieces that share the same mood, the same attitude toward existence, and, in a way, the same musical note. #painting #visualart #videogame
Welcome back to Artcade, the street where the old people pause to watch the work in progress. There's something hypnotic about construction sites; I suppose the beauty lies in the fact that someone else is working. In Italy we say “He who does nothing makes no mistakes” and this is meant to encourage action. But are we sure it doesn't achieve the opposite effect? Avoiding mistakes seems to be so critical today, nobody wants to take risks, so those who act and speak without restraint sometimes achieve a lot, even if they’re wrong. Is brazenness being rewarded? Who knows. Here we allow ourselves to be lulled by melancholy, a safe harbor—like a beautiful sunset that we watch without rush. Enjoy the read!
Folon’s style has been imprinted on my mind for many years because of the colors of his watercolors, the simplicity of his lines, and the melancholy that emanates from each of his works. From the moment I saw an advertisement he designed (yes, you can discover a painter through an ad), I discovered a way of painting—a voice, we would say, for a writer—that made him unique. Others may use similar colors or draw in a style reminiscent of his, but the atmosphere that envelops me when I look at his work… that is unmistakable.
Jean-Michel Folon (1989) Bird [Oiseau] [Painting] [Watercolor]
Jean-Michel Folon (1980) Blue Shadow [Ombre bleue] [Painting] [Watercolor]
Jean-Michel Folon (2001) The Tree of Heart [L'arbre à cœur] [Painting] [Watercolor]
Gris is a simple game in which you jump and explore a world where it’s hard to get lost in. In this way, not just visually, Gris echoes Folon’s approach: the straightforward, no-frills way we engage with this adventure is much like how we connect with the painter’s work.
Rebuilding constellations, restoring color to the world, and regaining the ability to sing—these are the missions guiding the protagonist through visually stunning levels that often left me staring blankly at the screen in awe.
Gris is about processing grief, but it does so with such grace that you could play through it entirely without realizing it. The only certainty is the sense of beauty and melancholy that will linger with the player.
Nomada Studio (2022) [2018] Gris [Video game] [Platform-adventure] [3½ h.] (Xbox Series X) [macOS, iOs, Android, Nintendo Switch, Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series S] Devolver Digital
Information Desk:
Folon is best known for his watercolors, but he was also a sculptor. If you happen to be near Brussels, consider visiting the Fondation Folon, where you’ll find some truly beautiful pieces. So beautiful, in fact, that I can’t resist adding one more picture:
When I was a kid, a national gas company in Italy aired commercials that I loved. The message hasn’t aged well: “Nature creates methane / to help man live in nature” (we’ve learned a lot since 1998), but they’re still lovely to watch.
My last two coins
A lot of stuff ends up in my melancholy. It’s a big cauldron in which, I suspect, now lie things I didn’t even experience with much emotion at the time. Yet now they’re there, inert; the vibrant uncertainty of the present is gone, and I can recall them comfortably from the sofa as a rainy November day works its magic outside the window. Melancholy is such a beautiful emotion. It’s as if it washes away the dirt, smooths the edges, and presents a world that was wonderful. Melancholy is the remastered version of the past. Until the next episode, ciao!