Galerie Marguo is a contemporary art gallery with a distinctive focus on international and diasporic artists. For the 2024 edition of Asia NOW at Monnaie de Paris, Galerie Marguo is excited to present Ribbon of Earth, a solo presentation by Vietnamese-American artist Dianna Settles (b. 1989).

Drawing from her diverse experiences with communal living—whether working at a bicycle co-op, running an art space, or farming in Georgia for the past five years—Settles creates detailed narrative scenes that capture “moments of joyful stillness amidst the cascading crises of modern life.” Her work, reminiscent of Dutch Golden Age group portraiture, collapses time and space, weaving together friends and communities from various periods into singular, cohesive compositions. In a world constrained by late capitalism and conventional ways of living, Settles’ paintings offer glimpses into alternative ways of life.

During her summer residency at Casa Marguo in Menorca, Settles produced eight new paintings inspired by the collections of the Museu de Menorca and the Talayotic ruins on the island. These works continue her exploration of autonomy and communion with nature, focusing on the island’s rich agricultural history dating back to 1600 BCE.