EL SUEÑO DE GRANADA ART WORLD
Interview to
JEAN-PIERRE LORAND
Jean Pierre Lorand, born in Valenciennes, 1939, lives in Belgium, studied art at the Saint-Luc institute in Brussels. Since 1977 he exhibits in Belgium, Japan, France, Greece, Spain ...
His style is poetic, naive, very detailed, profiled, even symmetrical. It reminds us of melancholic, scenic scenes from Greece; the Greek islands was its first theme of inspiration, later varied its theme, spas, other historical periods. His characters recall his childhood, the nostalgia of his youth. Castles, shepherds, bathers and sailors are part of their universe.
He is an illustrious, contemporary, humble, attentive painter who gives us this interesting interview talking about his painting, his life and his surprising encounter with Dalí.
Andrés Cabanillas: My friend Jean-Pierre Lorand, I speak to you in French I suppose?
Jean-Pierre Lorand: Do you prefer to speak in Spanish or English? I speak a little english...
Haha, remember that I am Spanish, then we will speak in French
Jean-Pierre Lorand is a wonderful artist, a wonderful person. His style is more than naive, it brings a feeling of nostalgia and he has an exceptional way of painting. That is why one of the best contemporary painters
Tell me about your childhood, the place where you lived
I was born in Valenciennes (France) because my father had a destination in northern France. My parents are Belgian; unfortunately he died when I was 4 years old. My mother and I returned to Belgium and went to live with my grandmother, currently I still live in the same house! Being young, I was very attracted to drawing. Thanks to my mother and a scholarship I did artistic humanities. I was hired at an advertising agency as a graphic designer. After 12 years, due to a major layoff, I lost my job. Then I worked as a freelance.
One day I found a book about Greece and I wanted to discover this country. I left with my colors and paper. At that time I used gouaches-tempera. A Greek gallery owner offered me an exhibition for that year. I accepted and it was a great success. A well-known painter friend advised me to exhibit in a gallery in Brussels, the result was immediate, and that encouraged me to continue. Since then, I have exhibited in many countries ...
I love music from my childhood. My mother played the piano very well and little by little I became interested in classical music. I am very interested in all kinds of music, but I have a predilection for film music!
Now I understand those instruments that appear in your paintings, piano, harp, violins.
Did you find your inspiration in that book you read from Greece or when you were in Greece in those places?
Returning to Greece, it was the Greek islands that caught my attention. When I saw those little cubic white houses, as well as the blue of the sky and the blinds, I fell in love!
As for the instruments, I really like the piano and the stringed instruments, the harp and the classical guitar.
You always had that style of painting, naive?
I started painting with the style you know, naive. In fact I am interested in other painters of this same style, naive or naive.
But you have never been interested in painting in another style or way, the truth is that your way of painting is very particular, what do you think defines you or is part of that personal style of yours?
Before he had made watercolors while in Cadaqués, it was more realistic. I even had the opportunity to visit Salvador Dali there! a beautiful memory!
Do you have a painting of yours from those moments? I would have to search but I think I gave all those watercolors.
What do you remember from that encounter with Dalí? Did you spend a few days with him?
Those were positive days that I spent with Dali ... he did n't tell me if I was good or not, but only "continue!" I stayed with him and his wife one afternoon who was painting a fresco about tuna fishing.
What do you remember of him as a person? Do not be discreet, it is very interesting
When he appeared, he looked haughty or was acting! But then it became very simple. I remember that they had brought him a wounded bird and he was very moved by its fragility. This is a memory of 1965.
Dalí must have been attracted to his way of painting
Let's talk about his painting. This is one of my favorites
I still have this painting
Tell me about her
The family, the "Belle Epoque" costumes, a photo that immortalizes this moment of coexistence.
It reminds me of the North Sea where I spent my vacation with my mother. There were sandcastle competitions there.
is it a real scene that you saw?
I imagined it as a memory in my mind.
What shall I say ... as a child, we spent 2 weeks of vacation every year at sea, to breathe the fresh sea air! On the beach, there were small wooden huts. I had fun making a sandcastle or running on hard sand with a kite. I have used the kite theme in some paintings.
It is very beautiful, all its color palette, the characters, the customs.
I like the retro period. The characters? I had a puppy like this that appears in the painting.
did you have it when you painted it?
No, but I have photos of the time.
Jean Pierre rummages through his photos
finding two of those moments
so yes, it's the puppy of your painting
This is from a small town in the north of the Netherlands. It's the little hydrangea-lined canals that attracted me. The boats make the waterfront promenade with tourists. I moved those scenes to the "belle époque" because I like the days of the Impressionists who portray men in canoes and women in long dresses. I love the 1900 postcards with suits from that era, and also the mustache bathers in retro swimsuits!
I'm thinking they look like the same characters. But it is not a scene that I have lived through.
No, I figured it out.
Are they the same characters? There is the puppy, the woman with her umbrella, the man
The father is imagined because I hardly knew him.
Tell me also about this painting, it is very interesting.
I painted a series of castles because it is a subject that makes you dream in childhood.
In this painting I always think that you are the one reading the stories
Not especially. When you see a castle in a landscape, the imagination begins ... It is necessary to imagine a scene suitable for the setting.
Jean Pierre, what are you most proud of in your painting? of your style, details, characters, color, landscapes
I am proud to see the smile of the people who look at my paintings. I am very 'manic' when I paint. I like to add small details, sometimes poetic, sometimes humorous. For me, painting makes me dream and I like to make people dream.
Ok, I always invite you to Granada, have you ever been?
I dream of coming back! It is a beautiful city ! Do you have a gallery in Granada?
We are creating the gallery, yes
Thank you very much Jean Pierre Lorand
Merci !!!
Thanks friend !
Your favorite musician ... do you have a favorite Beatles song?
Film music, I like, among others, the music of Alexandre Desplat. I discovered it in 'The Girl with the Pearl'. But there are other great cinematic scores! I love to paint while listening to Mozart! From the Beatles song, I think "Here come the sun"
Do you have special affection for any of your paintings?
It is difficult to tell you exactly which painting I prefer, because I have tackled very different themes ... However, I am thinking of a painting 'The poet' that brings together, the inspiration, the blank page and serenity
How would you like to be remembered as a person and as a painter?
I think my painting makes you smile and dream. She can leave a positive memory ...
Jean Pierre Lorand