Can you tell us more about your concrete experience of the lockdown ?
At the start of the lockdown, I immediately asked myself the question, whether I was not going to ask for hospitality in a Trappist monastery ? (laughs) As an islander, used to living outside, in contact with others, to multiply abundant experiences, I finally had to reconnect with the essentials. I devote more time, at home and in my studio, to reading, thinking, introspective work in order to redefine my priorities as a human being, and my goals as an artist. My close friends and family are currently spared from the virus.
What is your personal state of mind ?
The lockdown does not prejudice the freedom of an artist. On the contrary, I do not think I would have become an artist without boredom... My only frustration comes from the fact that swimming in the sea is prohibited during this period. In order to get in condition to create, I have a ritual: I will generally swim early in the morning or surf if the conditions are favorable. It is a way for me to let go by reconnecting with the elements and practicing mindfulness ... The ocean acts as a resilience mentor.
Does the lockdown experience have an impact on your art ?
I spent the first four weeks of lockdown without being able to find equipment (working exclusively with aerosol cans) and in particular canvas frames. These long breaks without the possibility of expressing myself generally lead me to re-invent myself, to redefine my requirements, my personal approach, and to explore new artistic approaches.
Do you practice your art during the lockdown ? if yes, can you tell us about your new pieces ?
I continue to explore my last current theme, "La Matrice du Métissage". A series of portraits of women of the world adorned with a chromatic rainbow. It is a way for me to make them more universal and bring out the essence of the emotion. This artistic approach responds to the desire to look at the world through the eyes of a woman.