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Thanks to all visitors of my stand at Retromobile 2009. This show was like a sunray in a dark episode. But the visitors were unimpressed and smiling as usual. They came to satisfy their passion of oldtimers and beautiful mechanics. As if knowing the past provides clues for the future. Ten day without radio or tv makes you really feel good. Alone at the stand, I’ve tried to finish an earlier painting anyway. While it’s possible but difficult to work with acrylics in such a setting, doing the same with oil paint is one step too far.
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Welcome to artists’ alley |
It was to our pleasant surprise that the organization had decided to gather all artists and art deealers in a single section, all together. In our alley I’m next to Benoit Deliège, François Bruère, Marc Bouvot, Christophe Parodi, Hervé Nys, and Uli Ehret. They represent three different nationalities. However, François Vanaret and Philippe Burlet are farther away. All along the show there’s a real feeling of togetherness; a mutual esteem that has evolved over the years into solid friendship.
This year I’ve three new automobile paintings to show, one of them unfinished: “Rock’n roll pit stop” with an unusual rendering of Stirling Moss standing in his Vanwall and drinking from a bottle.
In the absence of the help of Thierry, I’ve tried to finish this work and welcome my visitors at the same time, but the stroke of the brush doesn’t combine well with a handshake.
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On this picture, from left : Hervé Nys, Markus Höhnle, Franck Tissandier, François Bruère, Uli Ehret, Audrey Belle, Christophe Parodi, myself, Emmanuel Bernard, Benoit deliège and in the bottom... Tina the mascotte ! |
"Rock'n roll Pit Stop" - 100 x 73 cm |
Fortunately, my stand faces the one of Hervé Nys and Christine who’s laughing at my struggle with the painting. But after all, finished or not, the painting has been shown and that’s the only thing that counts. It’s the last in a sequence of three big ones done in the previous six weeks.
In a parallel alley the visitors may marvel at the gallery “Artist Auto” where other artists have exposed together during earlier shows already. They include Stanley Rose, Klaus Wagger, Alain Bertrand, Xavier Lavictoire, Hideki Yoshida, Lambert Heukeshoven, Daniel Picot and other painters or sculptors who have created their famous association for promoting their work.
We’re quite happy to be together in stead of spread over the grounds like usual. So, little by little the idea takes shape to create our own association and leads to a pleasant evening in a restaurant.
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At the table we’ve decided to go ahead. Benoit found its name, Art Avenue, and we agreed with Uli Ehret to add the subtitle “European Automotive Artists”. If everything works out as planned, next year you’ll discover a new communal gallery at Retromobile better equipped to welcome our clients comfortably.
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On my web site you’ll be able to follow the baby steps of our association; in a next step “Art Avenue” will have a site of its own showing the work of the participants.
Now let’s get back to Retromobile and have a look at the stands of some other colleagues. There was Alfredo de la Maria, an iconoclast from Latin America with partly unfinished paintings. Among his work was a superb composition of the 1931 Monaco Grand Prix with magical light. Other surprising works are a Porsche going off-track during the 24-hours at Le Mans or a close-up of Mike Hawthorn being overtaken by Fangio at the Nurburgring in 1957.
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Mon stand, tel qu'il se présentait cette année à Rétromobile 2009 |
A painting of Benoit Montet |
Strolling along the "Vitesse" Gallery I happen to stop at the work of a painter I know little about, Benoit Montet. Last year I was impressed by one of his paintings showing the holiday traffic jams in France of the 50's. A very graphic painting and modern in composition; a straight, generous stroke; a bright pastel palette that fitted the subject very well. This time I came across his magnificient painting of a little Panhard in Saint-Tropez (at left). and remained speechless at the delicious morning atmosphere and dazzling luminosity. For a moment I’ve left Paris and the surrounding hubbub behind for a quite summer morning in technicolor rendering. I hear the echo of lilting voices of shopkeepers, shreeks of
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seagulls, a klaxon in guise of "bonjour" for the bystander. It feels like being part of the scene. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful paintings I’ve seen here..
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