DEPARTURE
This is a painting that I realised during the Spring lockdown. During this time I was in my home in the rural Camargue, where I was able to walk everyday in nature. Inspired by these walks, my reading and an imposed period of self-introspection, I wanted to represent a warrior, a sorcerer who offers some of his strength and wisdom to help us find new paths, new reference points. I like to play with colour, shape and even paint on the ground, in a contemplative or meditative way. I have continued to paint on old sheets that I cut or ripped and on which I put a first layer of white acrylic to give a base and rigidity which I then scratched, scrubbed in places, simply from a desire to keep this raw ‘worn’ aspect. This gift of time allowed me to progress patiently, dot by dot, colour by colour, depending on my mood, the place where I applied the colour, like a message, a sign. I realised that the silhouette had his back turned, like a departure. It was then that Leonardo da Vinci’s phrase came to mind; “He turns not back who is bound to a star.” It was a response to questions concerning my personal life that resonated deeply. For me, painting is and always has been a vector for self-discovery, emotional release which responds to my questionings, guides me, gives me direction and at times the strength to continue.
