Were you always interested in art?
Yes, Always. Since I am little, I was always drawing on paper, on my tee-shirts or on classroom tables... ;-)
How did you become an artist?
When I started travelling for surfing, it starts to be very inspiring. I wanted to make people feel like I was feeling during those experiences.
Is it hard work?
Harder than most of people think, for sure!
Being an artist is a very hard job. It takes a lot of time and no only painting or creating. I spend 50% of my time doing an agent job, doing secretary, answering emails, advertising the next exhibition, promote a new series of paintings or the last "Limited edition" tee-shirts collections….Only 50% time left for creation, but what a fun!
Where do you live in France, near the ocean?
I live 4 to 6 months of the year in my home town, a sweet little village on the beautiful French Mediterranean coast. Surf is very rare there but landscapes, foods, colors, lights, art history are amazing!
When I have time, I love swimming, sailing around the islands (one is a marine park) or going for a paddle (stand up paddle) along the coast alone or with friends.
The other part of the year, I am travelling for surfing, discovering new cultures, country and people.
How long have you been surfing and what does it mean to you?
I have been surfing for 13 years now. Its means a lot, same for all the surfers. It's a great moment of excitement, harmony, humility, joy, challenge, purity. An intense flash of sensation which uncontaminated you of the entire negative, the stress, doubt… After a session did you not feel clean in you mind and in your body?
Because I am from a place where there is no regular surf, for me Surfing and travelling have always going together. I think there are complementary.
This passion gets you very deep in each destination (to surf "almost" alone). So you could spend a lot of time in the smallest forgotten fishermen village without been bored. This gives you the opportunity and the luck to really meet the people, communicate, exchange, living like them for 1 month or 2, and get inspired.
Where's the best place you've travelled to?
Indonesia is for now the most exciting place for me to travel to. There is great surf. People are nice. It’s very big and easy to travel inside the country for a low budget. It’s also an amazing diversity of culture and tradition. Each Island is different (architecture, language, way of thinking, landscape, food, economy…) It’s so rich. Each time I have been to (6 or 7 times, for several months each time), I try to go to some new places and each time I am so amaze. I am actually working on a book about all my travels, experiences and Art on the road of Indonesia.
How does travelling influence your art?
Travels are totally part of my artworks and art project. As it is in my life, Surfing, travelling and Art are very close together. I couldn’t really tell you which one influences the others. It’s all melted.
How would you describe your art?
It’s Freedom (no fence, no pressure), Love (of what you are surrounded by, of people, of the beauty of this planet) and Pleasure (there is no success without pleasure). My art is me. It’s reflected my deep feeling.
Also, I try to mix the different cultures. Mine and the culture I have been in contact with.
As music bands which will have a musician of different origin, culture and story. I try to put everything together and make the best of it. I want my Art reflects the world like I see it is now. I try as well to express my feeling in it on the top of that… funny headache, isn’t it?
Which artists do you admire?
I admire a lot of Artistsµ. I certainly know no more 5 % of all the amazing artists in the world.
I admire all kind of Art and Creation. This is my oxygen. When I am going in Museum or Exhibition, its make me the same effect as I am in front the ocean: I breathe.
In life what are your influences?
I definitely want to create my own way, my own path in this world. I see it like an adventure. But I am of course inspired by other men and women‘s life like everyone: Artists, adventurers, humanists, friends, everyone who gets, builds, creates his/her own destiny by himself/herself , with courage and passion, gives me strength and inspire me.
It is an even stronger influence if it is done in an altruistic purpose (to offer help, happiness and beauty in this world).
How important is the environment to you?
It’s very important. Like everybody, its worry me a lot. I am not very positive on many subjects. Money and power are so deeply and firmly rooted everywhere, it is the foundation of our actual economy. The consummation is a way to exist for too many people and in that way mind, they forget the essence of life.
But I also think that, in this world, as in each of us, we got 50% of good and 50% of bad. It’s the old ying-and-yang‘s thing. This is the balance of all living thing on earth. This is how it is and how it must be, like birth and death. My reply to this is to do the best I can to bring good thing. I am just a human like you. I did wrong things. I will do it again. I only hope to have chance, energy and time to bring positives and good things to balance it.
You've been involved with some projects with Rip Curl and Roxy, how was that?
I have been collaborate with Roxy for their 2050’s Xcard, create an advertising in an Arty magazine (2005) and I have been exhibiting at Roxy jam 2006 and 2007. I have been exhibited and perform during the Rip Curl Venus Festival in June 2005.
It was great opportunities for me to show my works and to be associated with so prestigious brands.
Do you find time for love?!
Yes, I am sharing my life with my boy friend Christophe Baudet for many years now.
How long were you in Bali?
I was in Indonesia for 4month and half. We have been travelling from Rote Island, a small island, West Timor, to Logk Nga, a small fishermen village up north of Sumatra Island. This village is one of the most touched by the Tsunami 5 years ago. We know this place for long time and it was interesting to be back and see how the people had handled this disaster and listen there stories.
On the way, we have crossed Flores Island by local minibus, dived with huge manta ray, staid 1 month in Lakey Beach on Sumbawa Island, spend time in Bali and I create a little surf-travel wear, discovered a perfect longboard wave in Java, met our cousin the orang outan in Medan province of Sumatra, crossed the island by local bus, took the ferry and crossed Nias Island squeezed in a van until the legendary bay of Lagundry.
Where did you surf?
We surfed all the way. Going from a surf spot to the other: Tland, Lakey Peak, Serangan, Nusa Dua, Canggu, Batu Karras, Lagundry et Loghk Nga Bay are some of them.
Did you enjoy your time there?
SOOOOOOO MUUUCHHHHH !
How did you meet Krisha?
I met Krisha in Loghk Nga, as my surf trip was ending. She was travelling with 3 others very nice persons: Charlotte, Sarah.and James. We spend time together, surf and share some nice seafood diners on the beach and we became friends.
Explain how you got involved in painting the old rescue boat at Lakey?
The first time I saw the rescue boat run aground on the beach, I really like it. His round shape, his orange-red color and the amazing scenery: it was an invitation to paint!
2 eyes were already painted on it by Artist and Surfer Ozzy Wright that I admire the work very much. If I need it, it was an other raison to don’t miss my chance to do a joint work with him !J
The parallel between me and the boat was interesting too. I was run aground on this beach during my travel though the Indonesian Archipelago, so do the rescue boat.
“Art on the Road” was the theme I decided to follow during my trip. As I was moving a lot, I couldn’t do and bring big pieces with me, so I choose to do an art book. Each page is a true painting of a place or an event that leaves me an impression. I used fine acrylics, Pencils, Indian ink, watercolors and did some collages of pieces of papers collected along the way (plane tickets, notes, bill, museum or National park entrance tickets and some papers collected on the ground) on handmade paper tint in black.
It was interesting but I love big paintings and I couldn’t resist this unexpected gift!
I wrote “Clean Love Surf” on it. I just want to tell you few words to explain:
“Clean” was because the beach was very dirty at this time. Been in such beautiful place and see wastes everywhere is shocking. Monday is the worst. It’s unbelievable: During the week-end, hundred of people come from the city around, have picnic at the beach and leave thousand of plastic bottles and used packaging on the ground … No one get pay to clean the beach so with the off-shore wind and/or with the tide, you could not only see plastics on the beach and vegetations around but you surf as well surrounded by plastics! No need to tell you how bad it is for the marine environment…
Slowly and hardly, the Indonesian military service of the area starts to heighten the population’s awareness of ecology and their consequence on the environment and on the business. But mentalities are long to change and there is no money to “encourage” it.
“Love” was because there is never enough Love. Could we say, sing or write it too much? Love the people but love your planet as well.
“Surf”: Surfing is a great activity like I said on top. It’s healthy for mind and body. But for the youngest Indonesians, in Lakey and in the other surf spots I have been too, Surfing is also the most accessible way to a better life. Especially with some example like Sammy or Dedi in Lakey who have been sponsored and won some contests. Though this, I can win enough money to live, help their family and travel.
How long did it take?
I paint it with aerosol bombs. Because of the wind, I could only early in the morning. It took me 3 mornings.
Did the locals get involved?
Well, Yes, they was interested. They didn’t really understand why I was doing this because the bombs were expensive ( I spend enough money in bombs that one family can eat 1 months...) An other rich people whim, maybe? J!!
They told me it is beautiful and it is a great place to drink beers now…
Artists are misunderstood…;-)
Sum up your life in five words!
Learn, See, Respect, Love & Enjoy