David Sala Exhibition

Known throughout the world and adapted for the cinema time and again, the story of Dr Frankenstein and his creature has spanned the centuries and captured the collective imagination. Resolutely modern in its exploration of universal themes such as the acceptance of difference, the fear of the unknown and violence against minorities, Mary Shelley’s story continues to resonate 200 years after its publication. Having adapted Stefan Zweig’s Le Joueur d'échec (The Chess Player) in 2017, the author now turns her hand to this literary masterpiece, offering a sensitive and poignant interpretation.

Instantly recognisable by its vibrant colours and highly referential artistic settings, inspired by Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt and Le Douanier Rousseau, David Sala’s aesthetic brings a truly unique quality to the stories it accompanies. A true virtuoso of colour, the author harnesses his palette to serve the story. Dialogue takes a back seat to a pictorial narrative of great precision that captivates the reader from the very first panels.

For Frankenstein, David Sala uses a gouache technique for the first time. Working in a highly instinctive manner, he applies the paint directly to the paper in successive strokes, sometimes using a palette knife, creating a remarkable interplay of texture and thickness.

The exhibition will offer a visual immersion into the world of David Sala and Frankenstein, through a display of nearly a hundred original works, including 13 oil paintings on canvas and 10 original illustrations created especially for the occasion.