Escape this blistering cold and join me for some hot cocoa, candlelight, and eros on Sat, Dec 5th, at 7pm! At Home Art Gallery in beautiful Port Jefferson, Long Island (only a few minutes from where I live, right next to the Long Island Sound,and near Stony Brook University, which I graduated from a few years ago), I will be exhibiting several of my paintings.
For those who weren’t able to make it to my debut show in October, this is your chance to see my Alain Robbe-Grillet inspired acrylic and ink paintings, which are my interpretations of scenes from the first four films of French filmmaker, writer, and genius Alain Robbe-Grillet.
Other paintings will also be on display, as well as older artwork (abstract pieces), which explore the same themes present in the Robbe-Grillet series: namely, pleasure & pain. The exhibit will be up until the New Year.
In other exciting news, I also just opened my store on Society 6 so you can purchase gallery quality Giclée prints and canvas prints starting from $15. Don’t miss out on the Black Friday Sale! Click below to be directed to my page.
As December nears, I will be adding more prints and stationary, as well– so you can order Marquis de Sade birthday cards and erotic holiday cards for your beloved… I will keep you all updated, as always <3.
Last Saturday was the day of my Eros And Afterexhibition at Holyrad Studio! Thank you everyone for coming. It really meant a lot to me for people to brave the terrible weather. I hope you enjoyed my paintings inspired by Alain Robbe-Grillet‘s first films (L’Immortelle, The Man Who Lies, Trans-Europ-Express, & Eden and After) and the screening of Trans-Europe-Express.The storm outside kept blowing against the building but to be inside Holyrad Studio and Alain’s world was such an intimate experience. We had candles burning and wine flowing! Here are some photos taken by me from my low-quality smartphone camera (I really need to buy a real camera!) unless otherwise noted– many are taken by my friend Natasha Bluth who did a beautiful job. The studio had extended the exhibition to Sunday, Oct 4, but select pieces are still on view until the end of October. Contact Holyrad Studio if you’d like to take a look or purchase anything.
Photo by Meghan Harlow.
If you want to know about my process, my interest in Alain Robbe-Grillet, and what’s next for me, check out my recent interview with Liz von Klemperer on Art Report.
Eros And After exhibition
Here I am in front of my paintings inspired by scenes from Alain Robbe-Grillet’s films L’Immortelle and The Man Who Lies. Photo by Meghan Harlow.Photo by Natasha Bluth.Photo by Natasha Bluth.The first half of my Eros And After series. Starting with Alain Robbe-Grillet’s first film L’Immortelle.Some of my paintings depicting scenes from Alain Robbe-Grillet’s film The Man Who Lies: “Thumb Suck,”“Hair Pull,” and “Black Blindfold.”Close-up of “Thumb Suck.”These art students were among my favorites. They had really perceptive comments and asked great questions about my paintings. They brought up things I’d never noticed before in my own work and totally understood the whole concept for my show. It was a pleasure talking to them– one of them said she would write about my show for a class assignment.Damian, my other favorite painting subject, next to his favorite painting, “Assassin’s Kiss.” The one on the end (one of my favorites too) depicts a scene from Alain Robbe-Grillet’s Trans-Europ-Express.Liz von Klemperer, Sean, and other guests Saturday night after the Trans-Europ-Express screening.Liz in front of my “Eve In Chains” painting, depicting a scene at the end of Alain Robbe-Grillet’s Trans-Europ-Express. Guests were treated to an intimate, cozy screening of the film that night. It made me so happy to see what a crowd-pleaser it was. A huge hit!Watching Alain Robbe-Grillet’s L’Immortelle before Trans-Europ-Express. This gorgeous, haunting scene (clearly) inspired the second painting pictured here.The studio radiates warmth, especially during the terrible, rainy, windy, chilly weather!Natasha came by to take some photographs of my show on Sunday. She interviewed me the week before for an article she’s writing about my show. Here she is standing in front of her favorite painting in the Eros And After series, “Eva,” which depicts a scene from Alain Robbe-Grillet’s film Trans-Europ-Express.Photo by Natasha Bluth. “Assassin’s Hand” on the end.Photo by Natasha Bluth. “Eva Looks At Elias,” and we look at her.“Choke Hold,” “Eve In Chains,” and one inspired by Eden And After, “Untitled.”“Choke Hold,” the climax of Alain Robbe-Grillet’s film Trans-Europ-Express.The second half of my Eros And After series. 10 paintings on one side, 10 on the other, so 20 in all– perfectly symmetrical which was unintended! These color paintings (and the last black and white painting) depict scenes from Alain Robbe-Grillet’s first color film Eden and After.Photo by Natasha Bluth. The last painting, “A Kiss is the Beginning of Cannibalism,” is my personal favorite. It made sense to end with that painting for so many reasons.Sunday was sunny!The garage door/window open during the few sunny hours on Sunday. Everyone who came to my reception the previous night sat in those comfy seats to view Alain Robbe-Grillet’s film Trans-Europ-Express.Photo by Natasha Bluth.Photo by Natasha Bluth.It’s hard to tell in this photo but we posted some sexy stills from some of Alain Robbe-Grillet’s films on the door of Holyrad Studio, opened the garage door/window next to it to let in fresh air, got my jazz playlist going since the weather became relatively warm for a few hours, and a lot of people dropped in! It was absolutely fantastic to interact with everybody.The “O” symbol of Holyrad Studio framing the climax of Trans-Europ-Express.Art director Jacqui King Wack and I thinking about becoming a comedic duo due to our height difference.Photo by Natasha Bluth.
Before Eros
Holyrad Studio owner Daryl Oh behind one of my paintings inspired by Alain Robbe-Grillet’s film L’Immortelle. Last Thursday during our layout testing.The Trans-Elizabeth-Express (my brother’s car) arrived in Brooklyn from Long Island the Thursday afternoon before my weekend show with all my paintings on board. Here are half of my paintings laid out at Holyrad Studio waiting to be unwrapped and suspended from the ceiling. My framer, Michael Choi of the Home Art Gallery in Port Jefferson, Long Island, did an absolutely beautiful job.Figuring out the order…Logistics… and to-do lists.
It’s almost here– just days away! I’ve never been busier and more exhausted but I’ve learned a lot throughout the process of planning my first art exhibit. It’s been quite a whirlwind and I can’t wait to finally construct this fantasy-come-to-life on Saturday morning. There will be clips from Alain Robbe-Grillet‘s films playing at Holyrad Studio as guests weave their way through my paintings (most of which will be available for purchase). There will be a reception and film screening of Robbe-Grillet’s film Trans-Europ-Express at 7pm. For frequent updates, please check out our Facebook event page (and invite all your friends, of course!). Nibble on some cheese with crackers and enjoy the wine that will be served!
TRANS-EUROP-EXPRESS
Imagine my shock and exhilaration when I discovered that Catherine Robbe-Grillet, Alain Robbe-Grillet’s widow, the most famous dominatrix in France and writer of erotica, will be in NYC the week of my show! She will participate in FIAF NY‘s The Art of Sex & Seduction series on Oct 7, just days after my show. Get your tickets now. If you attend my event, I strongly encourage you to check this out as well.
Alain Robbe-Grillet and Catherine, 1959.
“Get a glimpse inside the secret ceremonies and sadomasochistic rites of France’s most notorious dominatrix. A screening of provocative highlights from La Cérémonie and Le Contrat, Lina Mannheimer’s documentaries about Catherine Robbe-Grillet, will be followed by a rare appearance by Madame herself.
The modern-day Marquise de Sade and Beverly Charpentier—the woman who gave up her freedom to serve her—will talk with author and journalist Toni Bentley about their love, friendship, and rituals.” – FIAF
Before you go, read Robbe-Grillet’s marriage contract of “conjugal prostitution” written in 1958– though Catherine never signed it. Also read Catherine’s sadomasochistic erotic novel The Image, which was published under the pseudonym Jean de Berg in 1956. Radley Metzger adapted it into his 1974 film of the same name which can be seen on Fandor (you can view all the Robbe-Grillet films that inspired my paintings there, as well.) It’s resplendently graphic, mouthwatering and arousing.
Big news: I am very excited to announce that I will have a solo exhibit (!) of my Alain Robbe-Grillet paintings. I will host a party for my show and maybe even screen a film of his at the brand new Holyrad Studio in East Williamsburg at on October 3rd. Many of these paintings will be up for sale if you want to spice up your walls. My paintings focus on the first four films of Alain Robbe-Grillet: L’immortelle (1963), Trans-Europ-Express (1966), The Man Who Lies (1968), and Eden and After (1970).
TRANS-EUROP-EXPRESS
“Within you, may all ecstasy be in agony, and may all pleasure yearn to die.” – Marcel Schwob
My series of paintings on the films of Alain Robbe-Grillet started with a pencil sketch of the scenes that first sucked me into his world: it involves a bustier, a coil of rope, and a strangulation (more on that in a later post).
“Reality and fantasy aren’t just intertwined, they’re indistinguishable.” – Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch
Afterwards, I started using acrylic paint, Sumi ink, and India ink on watercolor paper. These paintings are self-portraits just as much as they are my recreations of my favorite scenes from his films.
EDEN AND AFTER
“A kiss is the beginning of cannibalism.” – Georges Bataille
The ink splatter technique started off as an accident. I liked the “mistake” so much that I would return to it again and again. The versatility of it– that it can suggest both violence and ecstasy– appeals to me. Likewise, every “scratch” made with my calligraphy pen nib or every stroke of my paint brush, is a wound, scar, or tattoo that brands and defiles the purity of the face (perhaps not dissimilar to the “sex flush,” when one develops reddish spots on their body during orgasm).
THE MAN WHO LIES
“The taboo would forbid the transgression but the fascination compels it.” – Georges Bataille
Without even planning it, I seemed to focus almost exclusively on images of strong, disembodied hands (that either circle a delicate throat in a chokehold or tenderly grasp a face to lean in for a kiss) and eyes (that either look directly at the viewer, shut to savor the pleasure or pain being felt, or are covered altogether with a blindfold).
TRANS-EUROP-EXPRESS
“Extreme seductiveness is at the boundary of horror.”– Georges Bataille
I am fueled by the themes of transgression, voyeurism, power, murder, desecration, and evil. Supposed oppositions attract me: the lure of fear, the beauty of betrayal, the nobility of abjection, the euphoria of pain, and the rapture of mortification. Other series in the future (many of which will also be film-related) will explore these themes.
TRANS-EUROP-EXPRESS
“Pornography is direct and eroticism is indirect. In eroticism, there is a critical distance and a judgement on sexual impulses, while pornography is the absence of judgment. When the crudity of the sexual act goes through the imagination it becomes eroticism, and when it doesn’t, it is pornography.” – Alain Robbe-Grillet
In addition to Alain Robbe-Grillet, I am inspired by the work of Yukio Mishima, Jean Genet, the Marquis de Sade, Georges Bataille, Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch, Baudelaire, Stéphane Mallarmé, Alberto Moravia, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Jean Rollin, Jess Franco, among others.
… to my noir-infused underworld of murder ballads, hard-boiled odalisques, gangsters, jazz musicians, beatniks, and aesthetes.
My name is Elizabeth Yoo. I am a freelance illustrator and noir writer living in New York.
My tumblr blog lejazznik was my first attempt (a few years ago) at making a website– it mainly became a place for me to post and reblog my favorite films, photographs, music, art, and literature. With this website I hope to finally achieve what I initially wanted to make: a focused, visually stimulating refuge in which I can share my favorite things– the things that make me happy– and indulge in my many interests.
At the moment I am working on a series of paintings inspired by the films and novels of Alain Robbe-Grillet. I can’t wait to share my noir stories with you– they will all be accompanied with an illustration or two.
Elizabeth Yoo 