London Biennale

Jenny Ouellet

Étreinte embrasée (Blazing embrace)

Étreinte embrasée (Blazing embrace) by Jenny Ouellet, Acrylic on canvas, 2025

Selected for the 2025 London Art Biennale, Canada. Acrylic on canvas, 2025. 171x129cm.

“Blazing embrace” is part of the Red Decline series, which reflects on environmental collapse and human vulnerability. In this work, a forest is engulfed in flames, suggested through vibrant geometric shapes rather than literal fire. Amid the blaze, a few tree trunks remain visible. Flames appear to reflect on a surface of water, creating a haunting duality of destruction and memory. In the shadows, a small, curled-up figure embodies fear and fragility. Above, birds soar through the smoky sky — recurring symbols of resilience and hope throughout the series. The contrast between abstraction and figuration invites viewers to reflect on the emotional and ecological impact of fire, both as a natural force and as a metaphor for societal decline.