1. Dominique Goblet and Kai Pfeiffer, Cover from "Plus si entente", Frémok/Actes Sud BD, 2014
Until the end of may 2025, visitors can explore the profound narratives of Dominique Goblet, a pioneering Franco-Belgian comic artist, at the Cartoonmuseum Basel.
The show of the Cartoonmuseum Basel, titled “Abysses”, present most of those works, but mostly new works dating from the 2000s to 2023. In her practice, she develops pictures with numerous artists and family member such as her daughter, which have been producing portraits of each other since 2002. She also had a collaboration with the author and illustrator Kai Pfeiffer and the Belgian art-brut artist Dominique Théate.
The exhibition at the Cartoonmuseum Basel presents original drawings and paintings, spanning landscapes, portraits, and complemented by ceramic pieces.
2. Dominique Goblet and Kai Pfeiffer, "Le Jardin des candidates", 2012 Forlaufend
Born on July 8, 1967, in Brussels (Belgium), Dominique Goblet is a renowned visual artist and illustrator celebrated for her innovative contributions to the European graphic novel scene. Raised in a bilingual family, with a French-speaking father and a Flemish mother, Goblet's infused her work with a rich cultural background.
Goblet's artistic journey began with her studies in visual arts at l'Institut Saint-Luc, followed by a course in illustration from 1987 to 1990. Her early works emerged in Frigorevue magazine, culminating in her debut publication, "Portraits Crachés" (1997), which showcased her earlier creations.
Throughout her career, Goblet has explored autobiographical themes with a poetic touch, delving into personal experiences such as alcoholism and relationships. Works like "Souvenir d'une journée parfaite" (2001) and "Faire semblant c'est mentir" (2007) stand as poignant testaments to her willingness to confront difficult subjects with honesty and depth.
In addition to her graphic novels, Goblet has contributed to various compilations and magazines, showcasing her versatility and creativity across different mediums.
In 2015, Goblet faced censorship and dismantling of an exhibition featuring her latest book, "Plus si entente," co-created with Berlin artist Kai Pfeiffer. Initially showcased at the Nabokov Museum in St. Petersburg, the exhibition was abruptly censored and removed by the University of St. Petersburg, highlighting Goblet's continued commitment to pushing boundaries and challenging conventions in visual storytelling.
Abysses
As all exhibition, a story and a titled has to be given. With "Abysses", the current exhibition is divided into six sections such as Ostend, the walking women, pretending is lying, into outer space, content determines technique and mutual inspiration. Thus, the sections make out most of the story of Dominique Goblet, her endless love and desire for observation and her relation with other artists via collaboration.
Ostend - A multifaceted depiction of the ocean and the rural landscape
3. Dominique Goblet "Ostende", Frémok, 2021
Dominique Goblet's latest album, "Ostende," delves into the profound landscapes of Ostend, where the flat expanses and vast sea take center stage into her illustrations. With this work, landscapes, lush forests and the sea are used as a symbol.
With the use of muted pastel hues and narratives, Goblet infuses the surroundings with poetic stories, disrupting the picturesque tranquility with a dreamlike element.
The story revolves around sixty-year-old Irène, who undresses herself and encounters the tides, weather conditions with the desire for change and imagination. Self-absorbed, she seeks an exchange with the landscape and the elements. The transition from land to sea, from safe ground to dangerous depths, is the place where Irène breaks out of the familiar life.
The walking women
Dominique Goblet's art explores the complexities of womanhood and femininity within a male-dominated society.
Through her ongoing project known as the "Projet commun", she facilitates gatherings with women aged forty and above, tell the artist their histories and what they have experienced in their lives. Each walk ends with a cleansing act, whereby the women undress among the trees, thus encountering their bodies anew in a poetic and sensual way.
Goblet's artwork vividly captures these transformative experiences, highlighting the profound impact of nature and female solidarity on personal growth.
Pretending is lying
In the 1990s, Dominique Goblet was part of the Franco-Belgian collective Frigoproduction, dedicated to the nouvelle bande dessinée movement.
Goblet meticulously collects fragments of life from flea markets and daily experiences, integrating them into elaborate sketchbooks. Thus, her work blurs the lines between reality and fiction, as seen in her album "Souvenir d’une journée parfaite" published by Frémok in 2017.
This album intertwines autobiographical and fictional elements, delving into themes of memory, identity, and the complexity of familial relationships.
Goblet's storytelling style, exemplified in works like "Faire semblant c’est mentir" (Pretending is Lying), depicts Dominique Goblet’s childhood, along with the effects of the pressure and violence to which her alcoholic father subjected the family.
Into outer space
4. Dominique Goblet and Dominique Théate, "L'amour dominical", Frémok, 2019
The collaborative artistic approach transcends the concept of individual authorship, creating shared inspiration and progress while preserving each artist's unique creative voice.
One such collaboration resulted in the graphic novel "L’amour dominical", a quirky adventure tale co-created by Dominique Goblet and Belgian art-brut artist Dominique Théate.
This pair met for the first time in 2007 in Vielsalm,where Théate lives, working with other physically and mentally impaired people at La S, a studio and centre for art brut and contemporary art.
Dominique Théate once had a serious motorbike accident – and Dominique Goblet’s landscape drawings take the reader along on this very same motor-bike ride. The terrible accident sets the story in motion.
Texts by Dominique Théate are juxtaposed with jointly written passages, as well as pictures that the two artists created independently. Goblet’s subtle colour drawings and Théate’s lively works with bold outlines combine to form an enigmatic collage.
Content determines technique
Who possesses the keenest insight into our inner selves?
How do individuals and relationships evolve over extended periods of cohabitation?
In 1998, Dominique Goblet initiated a dialogue with her daughter Nikita, then seven years old. Over the subsequent decade, mother and daughter created mutual portraits, each employing a new artistic technique for every rendition. Presented chronologically, these portraits form a captivating narrative of personal growth.
Goblet's artistic diversity is integral to her approach. For her latest (as-yet unpublished) graphic novel, "La fête de grand pardon", she opted for a linear, delicate drawing style to depict the emotional complexities and boundary crossings within familial and sibling relationships. Additionally, she explores the captivating landscapes of Mexico through illustrated stories, employing paper-cutting techniques and showcasing her affinity for sculptural work.
Mutual inspirations
In addition to her passion for sculptural design, Dominique Goblet recognizes the value of collaboration and exchange. Since 2011, she has partnered with artist and curator Kai Pfeiffer from Berlin.
Together, they have created "Le jardin des candidats" (ongoing), featuring drawings, ceramic figures, and glass vases amid flora and fauna. The collection includes elements from their collaborative book "Plus si entente" (2014).
Through correspondence between Belgium and Germany, Goblet and Pfeiffer crafted a narrative about a woman they dub "the mother", depicted across four equally sized panels where the artists alternated responses to previous drawings.
The story's protagonist seeks solace in online dating, navigating through profiles of men vying for her attention. Despite the ominous title, the threats within remaining unfulfilled.
Informations about the exhibition
Place: Cartoonmuseum Basel
Date: 2.3.2024 – 26.5.2024
Curators: Anette Gehrig
Ticket: Available at the front desk of the museum
Informations about the Cartoonmuseum Basel
Cartoonmuseum Basel
St. Alban-Vorstadt 28
CH-4052 Basel
Phone: +41 61 226 33 60
Fax: +41 61 226 33 61
Mail: info@cartoonmuseum.ch