Self-taught artist

The interest of "making things" is for me, like many artists, the origin — As a quiet person, I feel justified by the process of this form of expression. Everything forms around the complexity of co-existence and the simplicity of random encounters… an extraction of potential value from the energy and hope of my ideas.

We live in our categories but where are we the same? I believe we meet in the emotions and feelings (good and bad) emerging from our social exposures.

Intention

My work is meant to be an entertainment that shines a joyous light on the different and the nonchalance of “live & let live” while co-existing. In addition to stimulate inspiration, by combining the strange with the beautiful in a likeable setting, I’m hoping to generate new reflexes when it comes to appreciating what we don’t understand. With creating a visual space where we can all fit in, alone and together, I like to think that my paintings offer a reassuring traditional feel within a space of complete freedom.

Subject

At the moment, the work is a representation of makers building my ideas around the inspiration emanating from various encounters and the emotions that come with them. I like to use pieces of references in my compositions and depict them being transformed by the hands (mine and others). As if artists and viewers assist me hand in hand to create something that belongs to now. I find changes and cycles hyper stimulating and I like to punctuate them with visual anchors.

Composition process

Painting: I mostly use human figures as ignition point. I’ve recently switched to using mainly images of men that I deform to fit my aesthetic. It’s a liberating process not only to deal with my personal “growing up queer in a conservative social setting” issues but it feels detoxifying to reformat the “male image” based on my sole desire. With that being said, I like to think of my deformities as genderless beings performing co-existing unconventionally without purpose. I want to steer away from representing my single gaze on any specific gender. For that matter, I also use objects, animals and artworks as point of origin to hopefully assist with blurring the lines.

Photography: I view my photography work as a semi prequel to my paintings. Using the hyper-realism it brings to the game, I mostly focus on making the strange feel like a part of our reality. They are almost a point in the triad of an upcoming transition between who we are now (viewers) and how harmonised we could be (paintings). They should definitely be considered with a touch of humour and a barrel of playfulness. I often mention that the feeling of making them is very similar to the one I used to have when playing with dolls and figurines. Pure joy.