Isabelle DURET-DUJARRIC, one of the top ten contemporary artists in France, is invited to be a V.I.P. to join the 12th Guangzhou Art Fair which is to be launched on November 29. [Color with Mysterious Force]
Reporter with www.lifeofguangzhou.com has been granted an exclusive interview with her, concerning her works, her would-be exhibition in the art fair, and future plans in China.
Strong colors, powerful shock
People who appreciate her work are impressed by the bold colors and image her as an active artist. In our interview, however, she tended to be surprisingly quiet. Discussing the colors used in her printings, Isabelle explained that the red color, her favorite color, symbolizes the power of life. Different viewers will appreciate her works from different angels.
Isabelle's works range from sculpture, watercolor, oil painting to print and feature landscapes and Mediterranean figures as the subjects. She created the skills of oil paintings on thick pasteboard, which is now being widely introduced to universities of fine art.
Art to me is as water to fish
Asked which is her favorite medium, Isabelle blurted out without hesitation "All are important." As the child in the artistically inherited family, Isabelle began to study painting at the age of 3. Under Parisian artists' instruction, she soon acquainted herself in the art world.
Isabelle appraises herself as an inner-hot/outer-cold person. "I would like to show the hottest part on the paper. Art is important in my life, as important as the water to fish."
The first western artist invited by Guangzhou Art Fair
Famed in the worldly art and collection circle, Isabelle has showcased her works in dozens of countries around the world. Over 600 masterpieces are now treasured in the private collectors' houses. From entering the market circulation, her works have roughly appreciated over 10 times.
Isabelle's serendipity with China can be traced back 20 years ago. In 1987, her solo exhibition in Beijing was the first one by a foreign artist since 1949, when New China was founded. In 2004, the year of Sino-French culture exchange, Isabelle brought her works to the Shanghai Art Fair.
Isabelle was the first western artist invited by the 11th Guangzhou International Art Fair in 2006. This year, she comes back as a V.I.P. to join the 12th, together with 60 pieces, the same pieces which are considered hits from her former exhibitions.
Masterpiece as gift to Guangzhou Museum
Meanwhile, Isabelle will donate one of her paintings to the Guangzhou Museum during the Guangzhou tour. The painting entitled "la Calanque," valued at over one million RMB in the art market, is as significant as Isabelle's amulet. Wherever Isabelle goes for exhibition, she brings it with her.
la Calanque
The painting portrays a scene of huge stones, hot sunshine and cool beach, symbolizing the pursuit of dream and the satisfaction of reaching goal. Mr. Jacques TOUBON, the minister of French Culture Department, also expresses his great fondness to the works.
Guangzhou is like the south part of France
Having visited China's Beijing and Shanghai, Isabelle's affection toward Guangzhou is no doubt. She said, Guangzhou reminds her of the south part in France. The art atmosphere is similar and ultimately dynamic.
At the end of our interview, Isabelle disclosed that she would have a series of promotion plans in her China tour soon.
(By Jessie Hwang, Kimberly Barteau, works by courtesy of Ms. Isabelle)
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