French artist Jeremy Demester’s tenth solo exhibition at Galerie Max Hetzler London, titled “Nile,” takes the viewer on a journey through new paintings and works on paper that follow both a physical and a spiritual river. Taking its name from the ancient, story-laden Nile – a symbol of life, vitality, and the connections that shaped ancient civilisations – the river becomes the thematic point of entry for every work in the show.
From Ouidah to London: The Role of Chance in Material
Demester creates much of his work on unusual surfaces sourced from local markets in Ouidah, Benin, where he lives and works. In this process, chance is deliberately employed as a tool.
Unique Surfaces
Most of the new paintings are executed on non-traditional grounds: tarpaulin (tarp), copper, and locally woven cotton and linen. The drawings are made on handmade paper from cotton cloth dyed with hemp or tea.
Nile I and Tarpaulin
The work Nile I is painted on tarpaulin – the ubiquitous everyday material used in West Africa as protective covering for cargo and goods. Bleached by the sun, speckled with dust, and worn by the wind, this tarp recalls medieval parchment and carries visible traces of time.
Copper Mirrors and the Spiritual Realm
The three copper paintings titled “Chant” present rich-toned abstractions swirling across a gleaming metallic surface. Demester points out that polished copper was used as one of the first mirrors in the Chalcolithic period (c. 4000 BCE). These pieces weave symbolic and historical threads between the ancient world, the spiritual realm, and the present moment.
Poetry, Instinct, and Entoptic Drawings
Demester does not plan his compositions; he works by instinct, spontaneity, and intuition. Groups of works are accompanied by poems he has written himself, and he describes the relationship simply: “Painting is the translation of poems.”
Dream and Memory
Drifting continuities in ammonites territory (House of the cascade) is a painting that is a poem in its own right. Reminiscent of the artist’s childhood in Provence, it evokes a flowing waterfall and lush greenery bathed in golden light, transforming memory, visions, and dreams into a vibrant abstraction.
Entoptic Phenomena
The eight works on paper titled “Entoptic Drawings” draw inspiration from entoptic phenomena – visual patterns originating inside the eye that become perceptible to the mind during trance or altered states of consciousness. These drawings are presented against a backdrop covered with cave paintings of layered hands from the archives of the Frobenius Institute in Frankfurt am Main – a gesture of reverence to the artist’s ancestors.
The Breathe Series
The exhibition’s largest paintings, the “Breathe” series, are built from rhythmic layers that the artist says “come together like orchestral music.” Lantern, with its rich amber palette, conjures the flickering glow of fire and serves as an homage to the spiritual guides who accompany others in their search for deeper meaning.
Oscillating between figuration and abstraction, past and present, the visible and the mysterious, “Nile” invites a dialogue between alternative worlds.
🎨 Exhibition Details Jeremy Demester: “Nile”
A solo exhibition of new works by Jeremy Demester (b. 1988, Digne, France) opened on 5 November 2025 at Galerie Max Hetzler’s London space at 41 Dover Street and continues until 20 December 2025. The artist is also the founder of Atoké, a non-profit organisation in Benin that supports children’s education and health needs. His works are held in major collections including Fondation Louis Vuitton and Istanbul Modern.
