André Duplessis
Artiste with no message whose
work says it all
Monsieur Duplessis sits at a corner table on the
terrace of a French restaurant. Mustering up my high school French,
I walk over saying, “Bonsoir, Monsieur” and pull up a
chair. Oui, je parle francais un petit peu … et vous parlez
a little anglais. C’est la vie and we smile. Little later his
manager and a patron join us. Soon we are into a discussion about
our Monsieur’s life and work. Gradually, the language barrier
vanishes as we start speaking the universal language of art.
I peruse several binders documenting his accomplishments.
Born 1945 in Dijon, France. Trained at distinguished art schools
in France. Thesis on Durer. We talk about ‘Japonisme’
and he shrugs off both impressionists and post-impressionists. Inspired
by Les Nabis and Serusier.
A well-traveled man of many talents: cattle raiser,
sculptor, writer, thyme cropper, ceramicist and painter. Duplessis
comes to Japan in 1986 for the first time and stays on. He tells
me it is better for him to live here than in his native land. “In
France, too many people know about my work, whereas the Japanese
are indifferent.” So, you feel freer to be yourself here, and
he nods. But, he has also enjoyed great success here with 55 exhibitions
throughout Japan.
“I sold everything at my 1992 Hilton Hotel
exhibition in Osaka,” he says. At this point, I ask to see
some works in the original and in a flash Duplessis scatters a number
of them on the tables. He tells me that this is a series produced
in collaboration with André Geymond who painted the kanji
characters.
Their upcoming exhibition “A et A”
(referring to the first name shared by both artists) will be held
at Gallery Maison D’Art in Osaka from April 7-18. I pick one
up to take a closer look as I inquire about style and method. Abstract
mixed media collages using washi paper, sumi, acrylics, spray paint
and seals of gold and silver. He tries not to think in order to
work fast to instill a sense of spontaneity. Blindfolds himself
before putting on the finishing touch. Three colors, black, white
and red. We gaze in silent admiration for a while.
Does your art carry a message? “No message
… no philosophy … I like to stay out of my work.”
So it is an aesthetic experience. “Yes”. No titles or
frames either. About the East-West theme, he states, “My culture
is European, my life and my eyes are in Japan, and my work is ‘suspended’
not mixed between the Orient and the Occident.” I’m not
surprised to learn that Buddhist monks are drawn to his art.
“Only the artist comes and says: Look inward,
through what I have done, into your own starry heavens, yours alone,”
writes Alexander Eliot. I see a spiritual universe as dazzling and
mysterious in its serenity, as the photographs of the physical universe
shot by Hubble. “No message … that’s your impression.”
Oui.
A et A: André Duplessis et André
Geymond
4/7(Wed) – 4/18(Sun)
Gallery Maison D’Art in Utsubo Park, Honmachi
Wed-Sat: 12:00-19:00; Sun: 12:00-18:00
http://www.maison-web.org
Tel:/Fax: 06-6449-7773
Text: Mandeep Wirk
|
