Floryan Varennes, a unique blend of artist and medieval historian, approaches contemporary issues with a historical lens. Rather than focusing on idealized utopian or dystopian futures, Varennes takes a realist stance, considering protection systems and ancient remedies from the Middle Ages in conversation with modern science fiction and institutional care. His work draws on this historical continuum, exploring how care, in all its forms, can nurture the body, mind, and society. With a keen eye on the world’s current state, Varennes critiques societal problems, while also celebrating its beauty. His art touches on key challenges such as queer and gender politics, bioethics, ecology, modern love, and the devastation of war.
Biopower and the Healing Process
Varennes often invokes Michel Foucault’s concept of biopower—the power exerted over society under the guise of protection, yet often used to control populations. He draws parallels between the rulers of the medieval era and today’s politicians, who make sweeping decisions for what they claim is the greater good. For example, the recent anti-abortion laws in the United States have forced many to turn trauma into a form of resistance. Varennes asks how the body and mind heal from more abstract forms of trauma, such as political oppression, toxic masculinity, and environmental destruction. His work offers a reflection on what is missing in society for true healing to occur and what kinds of protections will be necessary as we approach societal change.
Medieval Imagery as a Modern Allegory
Through his work, Varennes reimagines medieval armor, medicine, and weaponry as allegories for contemporary struggles. His floating, translucent PVC vinyl sculptures, like Le Baiser, La Meute, and L’Assemblée, evoke a sense of both vulnerability and surveillance. These enigmatic figures—designed with soft lavender flesh and steel hardware—serve as metaphors for the delicate balance between protection and control. They blur the lines between healing and harm, evoking the idea of pharmakon, a concept from ancient Greek philosophy that represents something that is both a remedy and a poison. Varennes draws from natural healing traditions, inspired by figures like Paracelsus and Hildegard of Bingen, exploring the dual nature of plants as both curative and potentially toxic.
Phytotherapy and Aromatherapy in Art
Varennes’ work often references the healing power of plants. In pieces like Gothic My Love, where branches of Prunus spinosa overtake sterilization containers, he critiques the reliance on institutionalized medical knowledge while honoring the wisdom of ancient remedies. Lavender, a recurring motif in his work, symbolizes the tension between calming and harmful forces. In In Extremis and Millefleurs, the scent of lavender is an integral part of the experience, highlighting the delicate interplay between nature’s power and modern medical practices that often overlook these ancestral traditions.
The Personal and the Political in Healing
Varennes’ art is deeply personal, shaped by his experiences growing up in a hospital environment, where he witnessed the control and sometimes violent nature of medical practices. His work has evolved from simply observing to actively engaging with these issues, aiming to address the limits of healthcare systems. He views his art as a “warning,” urging viewers to recognize the fine line between genuine care and the manipulation of biopower. By juxtaposing medieval weapons with modern-day symbols of sensitivity, he reflects on how sensitivity, transparency, and empathy are qualities missing in much of today’s world.
A Sensitivity Arsenal for the Future
Through works like Oblivion, a flail crafted from delicate glass, Varennes introduces an arsenal of sensitivity. His sculptures, made from transparent materials, are fragile yet possess an underlying force, symbolizing the emotional and societal pressures that threaten to shatter us. These pieces represent the duality of sensitivity and violence, and Varennes uses them to question what society has lost in its pursuit of power and control. His work challenges us to reconsider the role of strength—both in our bodies and minds—and how we might find resilience in vulnerability.
An Artist with a Vision for Change
Floryan Varennes has participated in numerous residencies and collaborations, including one in a hospital’s reanimation department just before the pandemic, which deeply influenced his understanding of life, death, and care. He is now pursuing a third Master’s degree in biotechnology or olfactive studies, indicating his continued commitment to exploring the intersection of art and science. His program, ADN, supports artists navigating today’s niche art ecosystem, providing a platform for innovation and collaboration.
Varennes’ works have been showcased in exhibitions worldwide, including Retrograde at the Galerie du Monde in Hong Kong, Néo-Rising at Polansky Gallery in Prague, and Hypersensibilité at Maëlle Galerie in Paris. Through these exhibitions and his ever-expanding body of work, Varennes continues to ask vital questions about how we can care for ourselves, each other, and the planet as we move forward into an uncertain future.
