Maïa MAZAURETTE Maison close
Presentation
To mark the publication of her new book Maison close by Éditions Anne Carrière, we are delighted to exhibit the work of Maïa Mazaurette at the Huberty & Breyne gallery, Paris | Chapon - 19.
- Let's start with an observation: today, the word "fantasy" no longer inspires fantasy. It has become part of marketing language (to sell perfume), a gimmick for pollsters ("the 10 favorite fantasies of the French"), and even a political foil (fantasy is a desertion from reality). Despite its bad reputation, I believe in fantasy. More specifically, I believe in its emancipatory and protective power.
Eroticism, by its very nature, belongs to the realm of intimacy. We can masturbate to other people's fantasies, we can even repeat these mechanical gestures for years... but we will never truly be satisfied. Because these fantasies are not our own. The crisis of desire is not inevitable. It's time to take back control of our fantasies and invent a human face for eroticism: your own.
To pave the way, I decided to start with my own experience. I asked myself what the most desirable sexual encounter would look like, according to my own terms and in all selfishness. However, this method seemed too abstract to me. You quickly reach your limits when you project yourself into an ideal. That's why I turned to a more comprehensive thought experiment. My fantasies deserved a palace: their number deserved elaborate settings, their diversity a large cast of actors, their subtlety a real concern for materials, atmospheres, lights, and sounds. The Maison Close method was taking shape.
I worked on my House for two years. I wanted it to be as precise as possible, I thought of it as a graphic essay, because my erotic imagination is essentially visual. As discussions and encounters unfolded, I added rooms. There are common areas, but in the version you are about to discover, there are no forgotten rooms, no secret attics. I had to tell everything, or nothing at all. If I ask others to be honest about their desires, then the least I can do is be just as honest.
As I filled my notebooks, the pages came to life. I was able to answer my partners' questions without hesitation, whether about my desires or my limits. I made better choices, more precise and more enjoyable. I began to "see" my Home when I interacted with men (and even when I was alone).
I am well aware of how strange it is to open my home to visitors, but: 1) Are we really going to criticize a sexpert for talking about sex? and 2) My best editorial advice comes from American playwright Michael R. Jackson, advice he chose to write in capital letters: JUST TELL THE FUCKING TRUTH.If women have long remained silent and lied a lot, it's less out of modesty than because no one wanted to hear what they had to say. So here's my fucking truth. -
Maïa MAZAURETTE
EXHIBITION
From Saturday 27 September
to Saturday 4 October 2025
PRIVATE VIEW
Friday 26 September 2025
from 6:00 p.m
in the presence of the artist
SIGNING
Saturday 27 September 2025
from 5:00 p.m to 07:00 p.m
PARIS | Chapon
19 - 21 rue Chapon 75003 Paris
Wednesday > Friday 13:30 a.m - 07:00 p.m
Saturday 12:00 a.m - 07:00 p.m