How are you experiencing the lockdown?
When the lockdown was announced, I immediately wondered if I should ask for hospitality in a Trappist monastery? (laughs) As an islander, used to living outdoors, in contact with others, and having many diverse experiences, I finally had to reconnect with the essentials. I spend more time at home and in my studio, reading, reflecting, and introspecting to redefine my priorities as a human being and my goals as an artist. My close friends and family are, for now, spared from the virus.
What is your state of mind?
Confinement does not harm my freedom as an artist; quite the contrary, I don't think I would have become an artist without boredom... My only frustration comes from the fact that swimming in the sea is forbidden during this period of confinement. To get into the right frame of mind to create, I have a ritual: I usually swim early in the morning or surf if conditions are favorable. It's a way for me to let go by reconnecting with the elements and practicing mindfulness… The ocean acts as a resilience tutor for me.
Does this confinement experience have an impact on your artistic approach?
I spent the first four weeks of lockdown without being able to get materials (working exclusively with spray paint) and especially stretched canvases. These long breaks without the possibility of expressing myself usually lead me to reinvent myself, redefine my requirements, my personal approach, and explore new artistic avenues.
Are you creating during the lockdown? If so, can you tell us about your new works?
I continue to explore my current theme, "The Matrix of Mixed Race." A series of portraits of women from around the world, adorned with a chromatic rainbow. It's a way for me to make them more universal and to bring out the essence of emotion. This artistic approach responds to the desire to see the world through the eyes of a woman.
