You are a sculptor, painter, photographer specialized in the art of portrait, what is your career path ? ...
That of a solitary young man... an inveterate contemplator... who developed an emotionally rich interior world, in which images, lines and forms prevail. I like to observe, analyze and transcribe what I see. My eyes are wide open on the world and thus I transmit my vision of things.
Drawing which was initially essential for me, since my youth. As a teenager, painting prevailed and today, it is the sculpture which fulfills my life. I developed this art alone. I am fascinated by the glances and I try to give birth to under my fingers, the features, character, unicity, in short, all the power of a face.
What gave birth to the idea of realizing busts of stars ?
My revelation was Mike Tyson in 1991. The face of this boxer changed my life. This man touched me with deepest of my being at a time when I missed forces... Inspired like never again since my tender childhood, feeling me invested, as reloaded, I started by drawing his features under all angles for finally, limited by the paper medium, to erect the first sculpture.
Can you explain us your meeting with the TYSON clan ?
Ten years after having carried out this bust, and to thank this uncommon champion, to have been the revealing one of all my creativity, I decided to offer him his full size bust . Thus I left for Memphis on June 8, 2002. This evening, Mike met Lewis. After the combat, I gave the bust to him and Mike was extraordinarily moved. His sister Jackie, who was present was also filled with enthusiasm, by my work. It is the starting point of a story and an exceptional encounter, which will continue today, in New York.
As Jean-Paul GOUDE, you privilege black beauties, and you know how to capture their intense light. How did you can collect discover your gift, how explain it ?
I am permanently opened to different cultures and interbreeding. The woman of my life is of African origin and I thank gods every day, to have made me know Thieboudienne * !!! Young, I felt concerned with the phenomena of exclusion and rejection. I am revolted, well too often, by the horrors men impose to men, by segregation or slavery. Fate of Nelson Mandela or that of Martin Luther King... These human struggle for life touch my heart and carry my art.
Which material has your preference ?
I carve foam, polystyrene, stone or ice, but I remain faithful to loam. My original parts are out of clay, the moulds out of silicone or elastomer and the reproductions are made out in plaster some or bronze. Wood as well as the marble did not reveal me yet their secrets...
Of which realization are you the most proud ?
Incontestably that of Mike Tyson because I put at all my artist spirit in it and through this work, I know transmitted and caused love.
Of who you are surrounded in work ?
I work with graphic designers, founders casters, jewelers, engravers. As far as possible, of professionals in love with their work. I privilege the exchange, the meeting of know-how to the service of a common direction.
Can private individuals order you their bust ?
Obviously, it represent the majority of my work. Each face has its characteristics and I am ready to take up all the challenges !!!
Do you practice your art in serenity or anger ?
Anger does not get anything good out of me. I would thus lean for serenity. I am concentrated and in constant observation of the subject.
AMERICA is waiting for you, but FRANCE resists to your art, are you bitter ?
It makes me just a little perplex. I am afraid that artistic questions somehow lose their acuity in this country, which was however the crossroads of Art at the beginning of the 20th century.
How do you prepare your departure ?
It is the unknown, thus exciting ! I am preparing series of paintings and I am very enthusiastic. To create, paint, carve in New York, I had dreamed about it !
RSS 2.0