In Montpellier, a breeze of urban poetry sweeps over the walls of Parcelle473. Here, the sharp words and bold black silhouettes of Miss. Tic stand out with grace and cheekiness. The exhibition Dame de pique, reine de cœur offers an intimate dive into the world of Radhia Novat, aka Miss. Tic, a true pioneer of stencil art from a feminine perspective. From the 1980s, when street art was still a boys' club, she hit the streets armed with her spray cans and well-defined ideas. Her aphorisms? Semantic uppercuts set against a backdrop of liberated femininity: “deliver me from the male,” “let’s be happy while waiting for happiness,” and “no ideals, just lofty ideas.” Everything is said. Or almost.
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About fifty works to admire
In the cozy yet vibrant space of Parcelle473, nearly fifty pieces showcase the incredible graphic intelligence of this unique artist. Original stencils hanging, canvases where bodies leap amidst torn papers in the style of Villeglé, everyday objects repurposed like this fridge plastered with “the refusals of hunger”... While the exhibition may be smaller than that of the Palais des Papes in Avignon, it hits the mark. Each work seems to whisper a double entendre to the visitor's ear. One strolls among feminist punchlines, playful nods to art history, and street memories, like wandering through a notebook of wall thoughts.
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An Eternal Artistic Heritage
And even though Miss Tic is no longer with us since 2022, her legacy is very much alive. In her Muses and Men, she playfully reinterprets the great names in painting through the women who inspired them — or who deserved to be equally recognized. All of this is done with a light-hearted spirit, yet always taken seriously. We also find her explorations into cinema and publishing, from posters for Chabrol to covers for Amélie Nothomb.
Miss Tic embodies the art of brilliance. A style recognizable among a thousand. And above all, a unique voice that continues to resonate loudly, very loudly, in the streets as well as in galleries. In Montpellier, she reminds us that art can be beautiful, funny, critical, feminine… and indelible.
Parcelle473
425 avenue des Frères Buhler - Montpellier
Open until October 15, from Tuesday to Saturday, 11 AM to 7 PM (Sunday from 2 PM to 7 PM)
Entry: €5
Source: Midi Libre