A dreamlike installation brings “Californian Occultism” to the Marais.
A Gallery Transformed Into a Living Dream
For her first solo show in France, Ariana Papademetropoulos takes over Thaddaeus Ropac Paris with Glass Slipper, turning the space into a surreal, immersive environment. Rooted in what she calls “Californian Occultism,” the exhibition blends hyperreal painting with vaporwave aesthetics, creating a world where the mystical and the everyday blur together.
A 14-Foot Aquarium at the Center
At the heart of the show is “Water Based Treatment,” a 14-foot inhabitable aquarium that visitors can actually enter. Inside, a built-in mattress invites guests to lie back while surrounded by shimmering fish, accompanied by an ambient soundtrack from Nicolas Godin of Air. The piece feels equal parts sanctuary and spectacle, offering a quiet, almost hypnotic pause within the gallery.
Where the Familiar Turns Strange
Beyond the aquarium, Papademetropoulos expands her vision through large-scale paintings and sculptural elements. Domestic interiors float through surreal landscapes, while upstairs, iridescent shell-like telephone booths play recorded conversations when picked up. Smaller works push the idea further, transforming everyday objects like microwaves into dreamlike, almost mythological scenes. Together, the exhibition explores that fragile space where reality begins to slip and imagination takes over.
