Time had stood still for forty years in the dim light of the family warehouse. Today, the rediscovered works of French artist MANHU (Manuel Volanis) come back to life in the light of La Fab. This tribute was made possible thanks to the passionate dedication and trust of his sister Ariane, her husband Sylvain Pelly, and his daughter Lili Ullmann, to whom we extend our heartfelt thanks.

Born in Paris in 1961 and tragically lost in 2007, this avant-garde painter left behind a body of work brimming with vibrant pictorial energy. His work draws inspiration from Street Art and Figuration Libre—a movement that asserts the right to draw from all forms of inspiration without any hierarchy. On the canvas, an explosion of colors and sharp, sweeping strokes collide; a raw rhythm whose power gives rise to exhilarating forms, the true signature of MANHU.

MANHU was a member of the collective Les frères Ripoulin, a major movement in the alternative art scene of the 1980s, whose name was inspired by the combination of the paint brand Ripolin and the term “ripou,” derived from a slang word in Verlan. Originally, the Ripolin poster, designed in 1898 by poster artist Eugène Vavasseur, depicted three men painting each other’s backs, one after the other, creating a comical situation. The medium left a lasting impression on the collective: in turn, they created posters that they pasted directly onto walls.

In 1987, on the occasion of an exhibition dedicated to the Ripoulin brothers at the Galerie du Jour, agnès b. stated the following:

“Because I love them! I think everyone has their own role in the group and enriches the others with their presence, and we’re all working in our own unique ways.”

Building on these enduring historical ties, we invite you today to rediscover these works, which reflect the history of the Galerie du Jour and are made possible thanks to the generous support of the agnès b. Endowment Fund.

On this occasion, Ariane shared her thoughts on her brother’s work:

“Her painting is distinguished by a chromatic virtuosity that creates dynamic spaces of astonishing depth. Through highly technical acrylic work and intense colors, she explores the body, transformation, and vitality of the contemporary world, while offering a visual experience of moving complexity; between bursts of energy and metamorphoses, her paintings invite us to immerse ourselves in a universe that is both rich and instinctive, whose formal power, narrative, and colors move us.”

Today, nearly twenty years after his passing, the Volanis family and La Fab. are working together to bring this unique body of work back into the spotlight. The exhibition also invites visitors to discover a selection of images of works preserved by his daughter Lili in the painter’s former studio in Nuremberg, Germany. These long-hidden treasures are just waiting to be brought to light to finally honor MANHU’s memory.