JEAN PAUL FAUVES INTERVIEW
““I consider emotions the true strokes of the work. But I usually attach these emotions to life experiences and build a story.””
Your use of color is incredibly expressive and immediately draws viewers into your work. What was it about the Fauvist movement that inspired you, and why does its bold, emotional approach to color continue to resonate with you?
I’m definitely driven by expressionism. I consider that what provoked and keeps provoking my use of color is my soul always searching to manifest itself through art and the experience of living. Fauvism redefined pure color and form as means of communicating the artist’s emotional state using vibrant colors directly from the tube. I have used this technique since my first learning experiences and that caused me some trouble with some art teachers.
Above all, Fauvism values individual expression which is my true passion in my work.
Your Mickey Me series introduced a playful and unexpected sense of innocence into your body of work while still retaining the emotional and conceptual depth that defines your practice. What initially inspired you to create this series, and what drew you to incorporating such an iconic cultural symbol? Beyond its visual appeal, what themes or ideas were you hoping to explore through Mickey Me?
This collection talks about the loss of innocence in humanity. I turned Mickey Mouse, a world iconic figure that represents this innocence, tinto a hedonist Mickey, who looks for pleasure no matter the consequence. Part of my inspiration comes from living through several experiences to the point to realize that excess will never fulfill you. I question that in this collection even using several known figures like Jim Morrison, James Dean, and Marylin Monroe with Mickey ears representing this innocence lost that ended in death. The main theme is that innocence is never lost, you can gain it back by truly leaving layers behind and finding your true self. I try to create this experience by using’s Mickey masks. Once you have them on you loose your façade and feel more free, being able focus more in the inside than in all this external noise we live in.
Your work demonstrates a remarkable command of technique and material. Which mediums do you feel most at home working with, and what is it about those materials that continues to resonate with your creative vision? Looking ahead, are there any new mediums, techniques, or artistic approaches that you'd like to explore in order to challenge yourself and continue evolving as an artist?
My favorite medium is acrylic on canvas, but I’m also experimenting with mixed medium techniques like digital art, spray paint, Chinese ink, oil, and sculptures. In the future I would like to create interactive art where the painting could be mixed with technology and you could see an expanding story in progress.
What message are you trying to communicate through your work?
The message changes constantly given the fact that I consider emotions the true strokes of the work. But I usually attach these emotions to life experiences and build a story.