Splendide, Exhibition view,  Rinny Gremaud and Mathieu Bernard-Reymond at Galerie Heinzer Reszler, Lausanne, 2019

Splendide, Exhibition view, Rinny Gremaud and Mathieu Bernard-Reymond at Galerie Heinzer Reszler, Lausanne, 2019

 ….  Why bother trying to persuade himself? She’d made up her mind, adamant. Alone and consigned to a dismal silence, his spirits had touched rock bottom. Plastic furniture, what could be more cheerless, he thought. He stayed musing for a good while,

….

Why bother trying to persuade himself? She’d made up her mind, adamant. Alone and consigned to a dismal silence, his spirits had touched rock bottom. Plastic furniture, what could be more cheerless, he thought. He stayed musing for a good while, staring at the chair as if at a reflection in a mirror, and tracing in his head a self-portrait of himself as a piece of garden furniture.

..

A quoi bon essayer de se convaincre ? Elle était résolue, et peut-être même déterminée. Seul, livré au silence d’un paysage sans qualité, son moral avait touché le fond. Rien n’est plus triste, se dit-il, qu’un meuble en plastique. Et longtemps, il resta ainsi, contemplant cette chaise comme on se regarde dans une glace, dessinant lentement dans sa tête une espèce d’autoportrait en mobilier de jardin.

….

 Splendide, Exhibition view,  Rinny Gremaud and Mathieu Bernard-Reymond at Galerie Heinzer Reszler, Lausanne, 2019

Splendide, Exhibition view, Rinny Gremaud and Mathieu Bernard-Reymond at Galerie Heinzer Reszler, Lausanne, 2019

Splendide

….

Glass after glass, the deep, dry taste of the gin did its work. In a crumple of blurred amusement, skating between depression and euphoria, he laughed silently at himself and the succession of disasters and missed opportunities that now marked his life.

..

Un verre après l’autre, il sombrait dans un abrutissement amusé à mesure qu’en bouche, le goût long et sec du gin diffusait. Dans la nébuleuse de ses pensées, aux confins de la dépression et de l’euphorie, il riait en lui-même de lui-même, de cette enfilade d’échecs et de rendez-vous manqués qu’était son existence désormais.

….

 ….  The medication he was taking to recover smouldered like fire among his memories. Images of happier, or at least more carefree, times flared like negatives burning in the sun  ..  Les médicaments qu’il prenait pour s’en remettre lui faisaient l’e

….

The medication he was taking to recover smouldered like fire among his memories. Images of happier, or at least more carefree, times flared like negatives burning in the sun

..

Les médicaments qu’il prenait pour s’en remettre lui faisaient l’effet d’un incendie se propageant lentement dans ses souvenirs. Les images d’un temps heureux, du moins plus insouciant, flambaient dans sa tête comme des négatifs au soleil.

….

 ….  What did it matter he was a prisoner, like everyone else fettered by convention? For his imagination sailed through the tall grass, excited at this new turn of events.  ..  Il avait beau se savoir prisonnier, soumis comme tout le monde aux rigue

….

What did it matter he was a prisoner, like everyone else fettered by convention? For his imagination sailed through the tall grass, excited at this new turn of events.

..

Il avait beau se savoir prisonnier, soumis comme tout le monde aux rigueurs des conventions, son imagination, elle, courait dans les herbes hautes, ivre de cette perspective nouvelle.

….

On se calme

….

He’d known he was out of his depth from the beginning, in the clutches of powers far beyond his reach. Sitting on a low wall, he watched a tangle of floating weed and rubbish bumping time and again against the shore, buffeted by the wind and waves. He sensed he was a powerless plaything himself, at the mercy of the elements. He lay back and closed his eyes.

..

Depuis le début, il se savait dépassé, livré à des puissances hors d’atteinte. Du muret où il s’était assis, il regardait flotter un petit amas d’algues et de détritus que le vent et les vagues ramenaient sans cesse contre la rive. Comme eux, il se sentait le jouet impuissant des éléments. Il se coucha sur le dos et ferma les yeux.

….

 Splendide, Exhibition view,  Rinny Gremaud and Mathieu Bernard-Reymond at Galerie Heinzer Reszler, Lausanne, 2019

Splendide, Exhibition view, Rinny Gremaud and Mathieu Bernard-Reymond at Galerie Heinzer Reszler, Lausanne, 2019

 Splendide, Exhibition view,  Rinny Gremaud and Mathieu Bernard-Reymond at Galerie Heinzer Reszler, Lausanne, 2019

Splendide, Exhibition view, Rinny Gremaud and Mathieu Bernard-Reymond at Galerie Heinzer Reszler, Lausanne, 2019

 ….  She was generally known for her cutting remarks that left listeners speechless. Even at the most mundane times, she’d get the better of him with clear ideas that cut through the fog in the same way as an object sometimes bursts from an image.  .

….

She was generally known for her cutting remarks that left listeners speechless. Even at the most mundane times, she’d get the better of him with clear ideas that cut through the fog in the same way as an object sometimes bursts from an image.

..

Elle se distinguait, en général, par de petites phrases incisives qui laissaient l’assistance sans voix. Même dans les circonstances les plus triviales, elle le subjuguait par la clarté de ses idées, qui toutes semblaient se détacher du brouillard comme la matière parfois crève l’image.

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 ….  It had split in two on impact. He froze, no more able to look than look away, dumbfounded at a brush with such a dramatic demise. Learning of the tragedy, she would surely have cried. While only yesterday, she’d wanted to publicly humiliate him.

….

It had split in two on impact. He froze, no more able to look than look away, dumbfounded at a brush with such a dramatic demise. Learning of the tragedy, she would surely have cried. While only yesterday, she’d wanted to publicly humiliate him.

..

Sous le choc, elle s’était fendue, et il restait planté là, incapable à la fois de la regarder ou de la quitter des yeux, interdit, stupéfait d’avoir échappé à une fin de vie si spectaculaire. Apprenant la tragédie, sans doute l’aurait-elle pleuré. Elle qui, hier encore, le vouait aux gémonies.

….

 ….  The following days, he often went and lay down in the grass. The countryside’s fresh green smell calmed him a little, though never for long. He would have liked to see her again, but what pretext could he invent now? She was so far away, both in

….

The following days, he often went and lay down in the grass. The countryside’s fresh green smell calmed him a little, though never for long. He would have liked to see her again, but what pretext could he invent now? She was so far away, both in space and time.

..

Dans les jours qui suivirent, souvent il alla se coucher dans l’herbe. L’odeur verte et tendre de la campagne l'apaisait un peu, mais jamais longtemps. Il aurait aimé la revoir, mais quel prétexte pouvait-il inventer à présent ? Elle était si loin, dans l’espace et le temps.

….

 ….  Had he only counted on being drawn into the mood? It was, nevertheless, a cheerful outing. The children, despite an initial reluctance, had warmed to the idea once they arrived. In this arid landscape, the crumbling rock deadened voices and radi

….

Had he only counted on being drawn into the mood? It was, nevertheless, a cheerful outing. The children, despite an initial reluctance, had warmed to the idea once they arrived. In this arid landscape, the crumbling rock deadened voices and radiated the heat. From where he stood, assailed by lethargy, it felt almost as if he’d already left them.

..

Espérait-il seulement raccrocher à l’ambiance ? La sortie était pourtant joyeuse. Les enfants avaient d’abord renâclé pour finir, une fois arrivés, par se prendre au jeu. Dans ce paysage aride, la roche en miettes absorbait les voix et diffusait la chaleur. De là où il se tenait, la torpeur guettant, c’est comme s’il les avait déjà quittés.

….

 ….  Even in spring, fall was never far away; the scattered oak leaves and sycamore keys rotting into the deep humus. Of course, that’s all his eyes were prepared to see – life extinguished, slowly decaying. The flower he ought to have picked for her

….

Even in spring, fall was never far away; the scattered oak leaves and sycamore keys rotting into the deep humus. Of course, that’s all his eyes were prepared to see – life extinguished, slowly decaying. The flower he ought to have picked for her, a gesture that would commit him to the living, remained invisible. Perhaps he was blinded to happiness.

..

Même au printemps, l’automne n’était jamais loin. Les feuilles de chêne, les fruits ailés de l’érable, n’en finissaient pas de retourner à l’humus. Et lui, bien sûr, ne voulait voir que cela, le lent pourrissement du vivant, atterré. La fleur qu’il aurait dû cueillir pour elle, ce geste qui l’aurait engagé du côté de la vie, se refusait à son regard. Peut-être était-il myope du bonheur.

….

 ….  You’d have said ribbons of smoke – but without fire – the dense, white smoke of incense sticks in a Japanese cemetery, pushed into bowls of dry rice.  ..  On aurait dit les rubans d’une fumée sans feu, la fumée épaisse et blanche de bâtons d'enc

….

You’d have said ribbons of smoke – but without fire – the dense, white smoke of incense sticks in a Japanese cemetery, pushed into bowls of dry rice.

..

On aurait dit les rubans d’une fumée sans feu, la fumée épaisse et blanche de bâtons d'encens comme il s’en trouve dans les cimetières japonais, plantés dans de grandes vasques remplies de riz sec.

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 ….  Absolutely splendid! None but a fool botches a photo like that. He leapt back behind the wheel and sped off in pursuit of the green Lincoln.  ..  Décidément, c’était splendide. Il fallait vraiment être un manche pour rater à ce point une photo.

….

Absolutely splendid! None but a fool botches a photo like that. He leapt back behind the wheel and sped off in pursuit of the green Lincoln.

..

Décidément, c’était splendide. Il fallait vraiment être un manche pour rater à ce point une photo. Il remonta en catastrophe dans sa voiture et démarra en trombe à la poursuite de la Lincoln verte.

….

 Splendide, Exhibition view,  Rinny Gremaud and Mathieu Bernard-Reymond at Galerie Heinzer Reszler, Lausanne, 2019

Splendide, Exhibition view, Rinny Gremaud and Mathieu Bernard-Reymond at Galerie Heinzer Reszler, Lausanne, 2019

 ….  He heard the hissing from the trunk, and immediately felt a trickle of tears down his nose. In the rear-view mirror, Bernie was still asleep on the back seat slumped over the lucre. The bottle was leaking. He signalled to pull over and stopped a

….

He heard the hissing from the trunk, and immediately felt a trickle of tears down his nose. In the rear-view mirror, Bernie was still asleep on the back seat slumped over the lucre. The bottle was leaking. He signalled to pull over and stopped at the side of the road.

..

Il entendit le sifflement dans le coffre, et l’instant d’après, il sentit les larmes glisser sur les ailes de son nez. Dans le rétroviseur, Bernie dormait toujours sur la banquette arrière, accoudé au butin. La bombonne avait sauté. Il mit le clignotant et s’arrêta sur le bas-côté.

….

 ….  In his mind, two landscapes superimposed. It felt oppressive out on the water, no breath of wind to dispel his doubts. He’d never obtain the money. But that was no longer important. She’d gone, anyway.  ..  Il y avait dans son esprit comme deux

….

In his mind, two landscapes superimposed. It felt oppressive out on the water, no breath of wind to dispel his doubts. He’d never obtain the money. But that was no longer important. She’d gone, anyway.

..

Il y avait dans son esprit comme deux paysages qui se superposent. L’air était lourd sur l’eau, pas un souffle de vent pour dissiper ses doutes. Jamais il ne toucherait l’argent. Mais peu importait à présent. Puisqu’elle était partie.

….

 Splendide, Exhibition view,  Rinny Gremaud and Mathieu Bernard-Reymond at Galerie Heinzer Reszler, Lausanne, 2019

Splendide, Exhibition view, Rinny Gremaud and Mathieu Bernard-Reymond at Galerie Heinzer Reszler, Lausanne, 2019

 ….  Memories of the house haunted the corner of the garden where he sought refuge. No one had been back again since that famous day in May. The searing pain in his ribs still troubled him; the croak of the toads deafening. In a last-ditch effort, he

….

Memories of the house haunted the corner of the garden where he sought refuge. No one had been back again since that famous day in May. The searing pain in his ribs still troubled him; the croak of the toads deafening. In a last-ditch effort, he set off running again.

..

Le souvenir de la maison hantait ce coin du jardin où il avait trouvé refuge. Personne n’y était plus entré depuis ce fameux jour de mai. Il sentait encore ses côtes serrées par la douleur, et le chant des batraciens lui brisait les tympans. Il reprit sa course dans un dernier élan.

….

L'Anneau

….

Milan paraded its marble under a cold colourless sky at this time of year. As long as he lived, he’d never forget the echoing clatter of the ring bouncing down the stairwell when she dropped it. He went back upstairs to return the ring and saw the tears in her eyes, but could think of nothing to say.

..

Milan en cette saison étalait ses marbres sous un ciel froid et terne. Il se souviendrait toute sa vie de cette petite note métallique jouée à l’infinie dans la cage d’escalier, lorsqu’elle a lâché la bague. Quand il était remonté pour la lui rendre, il avait vu ses larmes, mais il n’avait rien trouvé à dire.

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 ….  The shot went off on its own. In the ensuing panic, he dropped the catapult, releasing the elastic with an explosion of pain in his eye. In the ambulance, later, would come a fleeting image of a Celtic mask with a missing eye. One of those long-

….

The shot went off on its own. In the ensuing panic, he dropped the catapult, releasing the elastic with an explosion of pain in his eye. In the ambulance, later, would come a fleeting image of a Celtic mask with a missing eye. One of those long-assimilated visions which resurface from childhood.

..

Le coup était parti tout seul. Dans l’instant de panique qui avait suivi, il avait lâché la catapulte, l’élastique avait sauté, et la douleur avait explosé dans son œil. Plus tard, dans l’ambulance, lui reviendrait l’image absurde d’un masque celte à l’œil creusé, le genre de vision métabolisée puis exhumée de l’enfance.

….

 Splendide, Exhibition view,  Rinny Gremaud and Mathieu Bernard-Reymond at Galerie Heinzer Reszler, Lausanne, 2019

Splendide, Exhibition view, Rinny Gremaud and Mathieu Bernard-Reymond at Galerie Heinzer Reszler, Lausanne, 2019

 ….  Breathless and perspiring, he burst into the room clutching his briefcase. The left lens of his glasses had fogged over. Hearing the door opening, they’d turned in unison, and now shot stares of cool, disdain. Thanks to him, they’d wasted five m

….

Breathless and perspiring, he burst into the room clutching his briefcase. The left lens of his glasses had fogged over. Hearing the door opening, they’d turned in unison, and now shot stares of cool, disdain. Thanks to him, they’d wasted five minutes of their sorry day.

..

Il fit son entrée hors d’haleine et suant, sa mallette serrée contre lui. De la buée recouvrait le verre gauche de ses lunettes. Au bruit de la porte, ils s’étaient tous retournés comme un seul homme, et le fusillaient à présent de leur molle condescendance. A cause de lui, ils venaient de perdre cinq minutes de leur triste journée.

….

 ….  Plainly, the heart of the business escaped him. Minor background details hinted at an obscure intent that he was more than willing to leave to others. His own part would be peripheral, but he’d make certain to do it well.  ..  Evidemment, l’esse

….

Plainly, the heart of the business escaped him. Minor background details hinted at an obscure intent that he was more than willing to leave to others. His own part would be peripheral, but he’d make certain to do it well.

..

Evidemment, l’essentiel de l’affaire lui échappait. A l’arrière-plan, des détails sans importance dessinaient les contours d’un objectif vague qu’il laisserait le soin à d’autres de poursuivre. Son travail à lui serait périphérique, mais il allait s’attacher à le faire bien.

….

Une ombre

….

She left in her wake a scent of precious wood and damp asphalt, the slightly sweet smell of a London night. The room was still filled with her presence – her hesitations and uncertainties. He felt a mounting desire, untimely and absurdly intense.

..

Elle laissait derrière elle un parfum de bois précieux et d’asphalte mouillé, un parfum de nuit londonienne légèrement sucré. La pièce qu’elle venait de quitter était encore pleine de sa présence – ses hésitations, ses ambivalences. Il fut pris d’un désir aussi violent qu’intempestif.

….

 Splendide, Exhibition view,  Rinny Gremaud and Mathieu Bernard-Reymond at Galerie Heinzer Reszler, Lausanne, 2019

Splendide, Exhibition view, Rinny Gremaud and Mathieu Bernard-Reymond at Galerie Heinzer Reszler, Lausanne, 2019

Un coeur

….

He had to play it carefully, maintain a calm, even tone. His eyes showed that he was gradually beginning to accept the idea. But the man was a thug. Who could say what dross cluttered his thick skull?

..

Il fallait jouer serré, pas un mot plus haut que l’autre. Dans ses yeux, progressivement, il voyait que l’idée faisait son chemin. Mais l’homme était une brute, et qui sait quelle caillasse encombrait l’intérieur de son crâne épais.

….

 ….   A faint dissonance in the contours, a slight distortion in perspective hampered his progress, sufficient for him to feel uneasy. At the summit, he would enjoy the view and finally execute the deed for which the firm was paying him so dearly.  .

….

A faint dissonance in the contours, a slight distortion in perspective hampered his progress, sufficient for him to feel uneasy. At the summit, he would enjoy the view and finally execute the deed for which the firm was paying him so dearly.

..

Une légère dissonance dans le paysage, une aberration mineure du point de vue, entravait sa progression, juste assez pour le rendre nerveux. Parvenu au sommet, il pourrait jouir du panorama, et exécuter enfin le sale travail pour lequel la firme le payait cher.

….