Vanities
A series of paintings exploring time, mortality, beauty and the fleeting nature of existence through the tradition of the vanitas.
Corsair Spirit
Oil on canvas . 40 x 50 cm . 2007
Pirat Spirit
Oil on canvas . 40 x 50 cm . 2007
In my personal vision, the Corsair, from the Latin cursus, represents the strength of the self in all its splendour, his soul freely forging its own destiny.
In his course, with the vast and infinite sea as his setting, he charts his own path. The haloed Corsair follows a Christ-like path.
He freely decides to place his qualities at the service of his King; this reveals a magnificent sense of panache and sacrifice.
I come to compare the Corsair’s sacrifice to the very model of Christ, mastering the elements and walking on water, declaring himself to be a double-edged sword and sacrificing himself in the service of God his Father.
Thus, the Corsair “self” is a sword: one edge directed towards himself, the other towards the world and the duties it entails.
Here is the mystical counterpart to the Corsair: the Pirate.
The name comes from the Greek peirân: to try one's luck.
Certainly, he too possesses courage, ambition and a strong personality.
But if he covets, wages war and grows rich, his ends are selfish.
This condemns him to death and damnation.
The pirate represents the tempting or tempted demon. He is destined for Hell.
Le Vautour
Oil on canvas . 130 x 130 cm . 2006
My vulture waits, begging time for the right moment.
Let the bidding rise, let the victim grow tired, let his defences no longer be a danger.
He will finish him off in the greatest cowardice, taking advantage of hisgreatest vulnerability.
His repugnance is shaped by the necessity that falls upon him with all its weight.
Of the spoils he has found, he will never share anything.
When he cannot take advantage of nature's traps, he then strives to set his own.
He awaits us here with a few pieces of gold and silver at his feet.
We must be careful not to get too close...
Radio Vanité
Oil on canvas . 120 x 120 cm . 2007
Finally escaping the flow of time!
The chains break, and the hamster
can finally escape its wheel.
The Corsair spirit blows where it will
Oil on canvas . 180 x 150 cm . 2017
The Corsair spirit is a state of mind. It is not necessarily linked to the sea or to piracy.
It is the ability to remain free, to choose one's own path and to face the world with courage.
It is also the ability to turn adversity into strength and to preserve one's inner freedom whatever the circumstances.
L'insomniaque
Oil on canvas . 116 x 89 cm . 2006
His firearm is powerless against the ghosts that haunt him.
Inevitably, as the ethereal light reaches its end, the weighty treasure will vanish into nothingness…
L'Ataman
Oil on canvas . 73 x 60 cm . 2022
From the folly of grandeur to the grandeur of madness.
The little being perched on his shoulder frets for his master, who now finds himself confronted with darkness.
Le révolutionniste
Oil on canvas . 100 x 100 cm . 2018
This is the revolution of evolution: this ape is descended from man.
To defeat him, all he had to do was remain in his place as a primate, while man, having forgotten his heart, had sunk lower and lower…
The animal can now ape mankind and sit comfortably upon the throne.
Diogène le Cynique
Oil on canvas . 55 x 46 cm . 2006
Like Diogenes the Cynic, he is searching for a man.
But unlike his illustrious philosophical predecessor, who searched for an honest man in broad daylight with his lantern, this little monkey is immersed in darkness.
For him, the hope of becoming human remains beyond reach.