In 2007, Galerie du Centre presented the group exhibition Art, Not Dollars nor Doll’Art, conceived by Alain Matarasso as a reflection on the role of art at a time when the international art market was increasingly influenced by speculation and financial considerations.

Through its deliberately provocative title, the exhibition expressed a conviction that had guided Matarasso’s commitment for decades: a work of art cannot be reduced to its market value alone. Beyond auction records and market fluctuations, the exhibition celebrated the enduring power of artistic creation, the individuality of artistic vision, and the ability of great works to transcend time.

Bringing together a selection of artists represented and supported by the gallery, the exhibition highlighted careers built on artistic integrity, coherence, and creative independence. Rather than focusing on trends or commercial success, it emphasized works whose value lies in their capacity to question the world, evoke emotion, and open new avenues of thought.

GRATALOUP’s participation was particularly consistent with the spirit of the exhibition. Throughout his career, the artist had developed a body of work largely independent of prevailing fashions, grounded in a sustained exploration of matter, light, and symbolism. Through compositions combining pigments, metals, sand, and mixed-media techniques, he investigated the relationships between humanity, nature, and the invisible forces that shape the universe.

Within the context of Art, Not Dollars nor Doll’Art, GRATALOUP’s work stood as a powerful example of an artistic practice driven not by market considerations but by an inner necessity and a search for meaning. His paintings invited viewers to look beyond appearances and to engage with questions of memory, transformation, spirituality, and the interconnectedness of all things.

Through this exhibition, Alain Matarasso reaffirmed the role of the gallerist as a discoverer, supporter, and advocate for artists, placing artistic creation at the center of his commitment and establishing Galerie du Centre as a space where the value of art was measured not by speculation, but by its ability to enrich human experience and understanding.