In 2017, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Vojvodina (Muzej Savremene Umetnosti Vojvodine) in Novi Sad hosted the exhibition “Paris – Novi Sad, Galerie du Centre – 40 Years of Passion”, organized to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Galerie du Centre, founded by Alain Matarasso. Presented from April 27 to May 27, 2017, the exhibition highlighted four decades of commitment to contemporary creation and reflected the cultural and artistic ties forged between France and Serbia.

Held within one of the leading contemporary art museums in the Balkans, the exhibition brought together a remarkable selection of artists who had shaped the history of Galerie du Centre. Alongside GRATALOUP were major international figures such as Robert Combas, a leading representative of the French Figuration Libre movement, and Derek Boshier, one of the pioneering figures of British Pop Art. Bringing together French, British, Serbian, and international artists, the exhibition offered an exceptional overview of four decades of artistic commitment championed by Alain Matarasso.

Among the major works on display was GRATALOUP’s monumental triptych Grand Adam and Eve. Presented on a large scale within the museum galleries, the work occupied a prominent place in the exhibition. Human silhouettes emerge from a fragmented environment of color, texture, and reflective surfaces, expressing one of the artist’s enduring concerns: the relationship between humanity, its origins, its duality, and its destiny. Through this contemporary reinterpretation of the founding myth, GRATALOUP explores the human condition and the search for unity in a world shaped by diversity, fragmentation, and multiple perspectives.

GRATALOUP’s participation reflected a longstanding relationship with Alain Matarasso and Galerie du Centre. For many years, the gallery promoted his work through exhibitions, international art fairs, and cultural exchanges, helping to introduce his unique artistic language to collectors and institutions in France and abroad.

Presented within the framework of a cultural dialogue between Paris and Novi Sad, the exhibition embodied the values that had guided Galerie du Centre since its foundation: international openness, loyalty to artists, and the conviction that art is a universal language capable of transcending geographical and cultural boundaries. Bringing together artists from different generations and backgrounds, the exhibition offered a representative panorama of four decades of dedication to contemporary creation.

Through its institutional significance, international scope, and the prestige of the museum hosting it, “Paris – Novi Sad, Galerie du Centre – 40 Years of Passion” represents an important milestone in GRATALOUP’s exhibition history. His participation alongside major figures such as Robert Combas and Derek Boshier reflects the international recognition of his work and highlights the distinctive place he occupies within the history of contemporary art.