Are you familiar with the artist Hieronymous Bosch? It’s been a long while since I looked deep into his paintings.
I have to admit I was always uncertain about his message. I do know that he painted many pictures of Hell.
Different art historians looked at his work and message quite differently: from nightmarish dreams, to the inventor of monsters, to a Dutch painter who painted from the medieval notions contrasting good and evil.
I believe Bosch was a solitary figure only 7 paintings bear the signature of the artist. There are more in his style that are attributed to the artist, but there is a belief that there are more works that he is not given credit for. His late 15th century art conveys an early sense of the surreal much like that of Salvador Dali who would paint unforgettable (but still hard to understand) images 400 years later.
I hope that Bosch leaves you a bit uncomfortable. I believe that was his intention.
Nightmarish dreams works for me…
This painting is by Dutch painter Gerard David a contemporary of Bosch. The paintings of the day were flat nativity scenes and portraiture.
Bosch was definitely ahead of his time and maybe uncomfortable with his artist genius.
Please join me next week as I’ll spend the week creating a mosaic of dark art and contemporary horror writing. Tis the season …
Art means something different to each person. It’s beauty, it tells a message… But what is it for artist?
The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance ~ Aristotle
I would like to thank French artist Piere Chalory for the willingness to do an interview with Friday Feature. Piere is having a very busy September with an exhibit in Le Lavandou, an article in Bold Favor Magazine and then he graciously took time for an interview.
When I originally saw Piere’s art, I was taken back with his surreal effects. My personal favorites are paintings depicting games. I read a commentary about society, the past, present and future. Some how I felt I was viewing a new Salvador Dali. I had no idea about the series that he had painted (in 1998) depicting an attack on New York City. I am grateful for his candor – I hope you can appreciate this gifted contemporary artist.
About 9/11 : The images and a reflection are on a blog I posted yesterday (911) so please visit there if you have not gotten a chance to see them. I asked Piere what it was like to see the towers in NYC come crashing down on 911?
I did not make exhibition (of my Twin Towers series) between 1998 and 2001 until September 2001, therefore, precisely 5 to 30 September 2001, and the day of September 11, 2001, ‘Twin Towers 1998’ was on display ! I have pictures to prove it.
The day of september 11 2001, I saw the crashes and at the time, I was extremely shocked to see the towers collapse like a house of cards! It was not until later in the afternoon that I realized I had a painting of the twin towers on display in a gallery.
In reviewing the painting with its two notches, they were located almost in the exact place of impact of the aircraft., I was more than surprised to have made this drawing more than 3 years before, and the gallerist and a friend were also . Objectively, when I made this painting and the one where I built the Titanic in the port of NYC, another catastrophic symbol, I have no particular view, one could say that only my hands were ‘guided by ‘something’.
Inspiration in this case equals vision/premonition: “It is also clear that when I paint, like any true artist, I’m kind of in a daze, a kind of trance, a fever. This inspiration is reached (and thankfully) from time to time, and then I have to create something, anything. But then, in the case of this picture really amazing, I admit I was a bit overwhelmed by the result.”
Can you tell me about your art and where you started your journey ?
I started painting in 1980, in fact I’ve always drawn and painted since the age of about five years. The surrealistic, sci fi, really popped in my twenties. I do not believe in the surrounding reality that we live every day, and subjective vision of my paintings is deliberately ‘shocking for people( conformists anyway.) Right now, I’m thinking to incorporate a ‘digital vision of my next paintings in oil on canvas. Before making anything, I will create mentally my best projects, which are sort of pre-made prior to their implementation. Today I live in Marseille, but I will be moving soon to a quieter place.
Who are your favorite artists?
My favorite artists are Picasso, Renoir, Da Vinci, Van Gogh. And all the great painters (in general) those who have managed to transcend reality into a personal visual approach and whose work ignores the conventions of an era.
Piere, how are you inspired?
Everything inspires me, color, contrast, a situation, an emotion, then I try to translate in color and shapes that I felt.
When you create what are your favorite subjects?
I have no favorite subjects, except the mystery, the tension between the real and transcendence, spirituality, esotericism. Any object or subject begun normally, then its appearance always ends with a subjective disintegration of common sense, colors and shapes.
Places where you can find the work of Piere Chalory:
Piere is featured in Le Portail Artistique Francais and in 2015 in L’Annuaire International des Arts
You can also ( if you are travelling in France) enjoy his work at the Dreem Street Gallery
I encourage you to go to some of the links that show Piere’s work. I was delighted to find not only paintings but drawings, sculpture,digital art. I also know he writes horror.
Piere also has a website where you can find his work and books: 3d-art-ebooks.com
So I ask you creative types is there something that we can see or feel that others do not? Are our hands moved to paint or write of events yet to occur? In the case of Piere Chalory, I would say “Yes.” I would also add it is a gift to be handled wisely!!!!
An aside: As I am finalizing this article, I realize when I asked Piere if we could do an interview I was thinking of an early September posting. This was before I knew about his 911 series. I never consider things accidental. Do you???
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. - Edgar Allan Poe
I would like to thank French artist Piere Chalory for the willingness to do an interview with Friday Feature. Piere is having a very busy September with an exhibit in Le Lavandou, an article in Bold Favor Magazine and then he graciously took time for an interview.
penned in moon dust 