“The Long Run”: Clotilde Jiménez offers a moving performance, a hymn to diversity

The Parisian gallery Mariane Ibrahim is honored to welcome Clotilde Jiménez for her second solo exhibition. Entitled “The Long Run”, this new artistic presentation, which runs until September 28, invites visitors to explore the artist’s reflections on themes such as community, competition and movement. Drawing on her previous works, Clotilde Jiménez unveils a series of official Olympic posters designed for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This exhibition is thus perfectly in tune with the sporting effervescence currently driving the French capital.

Here, Clotilde Jiménez reinvents the traditional essence of competition through her creations. Her series of paintings highlights the importance of solidarity and shared experiences, often to the detriment of individual success. A committed collage artist, she skilfully fuses disparate elements to create a coherent, harmonious body of work.

This artistic approach reflects the way in which athletes embody a synergy of community, nationality, family and culture. The characters in “The Long Run” illustrate, through their intertwined gestures and expressions, the interdependence of individuals and their journeys, as well as the collective strength deployed to overcome obstacles.

“I think a lot about a group winning, not just a singular athlete, because many of my characters are constructed with a multitude of faces and gestures that build the image.” To resonate with her participatory and collective vision of the games, Clotilde Jiménez integrates character traits in an almost intimate way into her work La Danza del Listón. This plural arrangement of figures is found throughout the creations that make up “The Long Run” exhibition. Through this singular and fascinating representation, the artist highlights the community infrastructure of sport, based on cultural pride, global connections and mutual support.

In “The Long Run”, Clotilde Jiménez takes her reflections on the Olympic Games even further. Much more than a simple celebration of team spirit, this exhibition also highlights societal dynamics, showcasing athletes from marginalized backgrounds who find recognition on the world stage. This burlesque duality reveals broader societal implications, going beyond mere patriotism, as people identify with athletes who reflect their own identity and personal narrative.

For the contemporary artist, the Olympics offer a unique experience, transcending racial prejudice and social distinctions. It’s a moment that gives voice to joy, excitement, euphoria, stress and a multitude of mixed emotions, fostering human gatherings that may be ephemeral, but are profoundly meaningful for forging bonds and connections. Set against the backdrop of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Clotilde Jiménez’s new series bears witness to the possibilities that emerge when individuals make these connections.