From nature to a visual poem
All my strands of research begin with the observation of nature; as Picasso reflected: ‘there is no such thing as abstract art, one must always start with something’.
I approach each subject from the angle of different techniques such as watercolour, walnut stain, pencil, charcoal or oil, to try to reach the essential visual representation of it, a similar procedure to the creation of a poem.
My pictorial universe must be completed by the imagination and personal interpretation of the beholder, in whose eyes a new universe thus comes into being.
In my research, I try to bring out the quintessence of a subject that touches me personally. In its etymological sense, quintessence means the fifth element. It comes after water, earth, fire and air : these four elements that inspire me constantly.
The poet chooses words in the very essence of their meaning. He then lifts them out to awaken the imagination and sensibility of the reader. In the same way, I think a painting should awaken the senses of the spectator.
What I wish to give you is a visual poem.
Certain poems or certain paintings are more explicit than others, but in each one, the search for rhythm plays an important role, as in a musical composition.
In my walnut stain or pencil works, the rhythm I am seeking is that of shade and light; in my watercolours and oils, the colours express the rhythm.
The poets who are my inspiration are: Garcia Lorca, Paul Eluard, Tristan Tzara, Philippe Jacottet, Henri Michaux, Tomas Transtromer and the Japanese Haiku.
The musicians: Bach, Igor Stravinsky, Alban Berg, Bela Bartok, Sergei Rachmaninov, Arnold Schonberg, Karlheinz Stockhausen and John Cage.
All my strands of research begin with the observation of nature; as Picasso reflected: ‘there is no such thing as abstract art, one must always start with something’.
I approach each subject from the angle of different techniques such as watercolour, walnut stain, pencil, charcoal or oil, to try to reach the essential visual representation of it, a similar procedure to the creation of a poem.
My pictorial universe must be completed by the imagination and personal interpretation of the beholder, in whose eyes a new universe thus comes into being.
In my research, I try to bring out the quintessence of a subject that touches me personally. In its etymological sense, quintessence means the fifth element. It comes after water, earth, fire and air : these four elements that inspire me constantly.
The poet chooses words in the very essence of their meaning. He then lifts them out to awaken the imagination and sensibility of the reader. In the same way, I think a painting should awaken the senses of the spectator.
What I wish to give you is a visual poem.
Certain poems or certain paintings are more explicit than others, but in each one, the search for rhythm plays an important role, as in a musical composition.
In my walnut stain or pencil works, the rhythm I am seeking is that of shade and light; in my watercolours and oils, the colours express the rhythm.
The poets who are my inspiration are: Garcia Lorca, Paul Eluard, Tristan Tzara, Philippe Jacottet, Henri Michaux, Tomas Transtromer and the Japanese Haiku.
The musicians: Bach, Igor Stravinsky, Alban Berg, Bela Bartok, Sergei Rachmaninov, Arnold Schonberg, Karlheinz Stockhausen and John Cage.