A collection of about twenty collages by artist Joël Canchel, known by his artistic name Paplart, are currently on display at the local media library until November 5, 2025. The exhibition showcases the creative journey of an artist who emerged from an entirely different professional background.
Discovered three years ago at the Écouché salon, Canchel captivated the exhibitions manager at the Briouze media library in Orne. Today, this young retiree from the construction industry continues an artistic adventure that began in 2019. "It started with a piece of wrapping paper that I couldn't bring myself to throw away. I spent fifteen whole days on my first collage. It tells the story of the last thirty years of my life. Since then, I haven't stopped," he reveals.
Canchel's works translate personal events as well as global upheavals. Migration, harassment, wars, and digital invasion are among the themes developed by the artist. The titles of his photo-collages, including "Heaviness," "Harassed," "It's Demonic," "The Tear," "The Rule and the Game," and "Tech Crab," bear witness to these concerns.
Starting from a photograph or a color, the artist conducts patient iconographic research before assembly. "I start cutting when an image or color speaks to me," explains Joël Canchel, alias Paplart. Claiming to practice a "noble economy of recycling," he sources his magazines and papers from trash cans, garage sales, or Emmaüs charity shops. The highly colorful and contrasting backgrounds interlock with cut or torn fragments, contributing to the dynamic of each work.
"It's like a beautiful stone in a quarry, I cut and assemble," explains Joël Canchel in a metaphor that perfectly summarizes his approach. Once the collage is finalized, a specialized laboratory called Parisgraphie photographs, digitizes, and prints the work on Fine Art paper. "This allows for stability of the work. Collages age differently depending on the medium. Colors alter differently," he specifies.
The frames are custom-made by a professional in Caen, which allows for "non-standard" freedom in formats, whether small or large, rectangular or square. This attention to quality and detail reflects Canchel's commitment to professional presentation of his artistic vision.
Paplart defines his practice as photo-collage and is now focused on developing a workshop that he is building himself, staying true to his construction background expertise. "I want to accompany my photo-collages with text now," he confides, always searching for galleries ready to welcome his creations. This evolution represents a new artistic stage in his developing practice.
The exhibition at the media library offers an opportunity to discover a sensitive universe that is both intimate and anchored in current events. Fragments of images and colors assemble to propose a unique way of seeing the world. Visitors can experience how Canchel transforms discarded materials into thought-provoking artistic statements about contemporary life and global issues.
