Mathieu Cherkit was comissioned this year by the Meymac– Centre d’art contemporain to transform the Abbaye Saint André  into a vast advent calendar, where each window represents a new illustration. This marks the 20th edition of the event. Cherkit, whose work draws inspiration from his immediate surroundings, is here presenting a unique project: a monumental herbarium, where the façade of the Abbaye is transformed into a display of medicinal plants, reminiscent of the old herbariums once found in pharmacies.

The artist has chosen to depict plants he discovered during his own walks around his home, creating an intimate connection between his work and the nature that surrounds him. These images, created with markers in a sketchbook, mark a departure from his usual medium of oil painting,. The choice of markers, lighter and more fluid, allows Cherkit to explore a fresh approach to his art while maintaining the precision and delicacy that define his work.