A trio of artists at the Infante gallery, between pointillism and feminine sculpture

A new exhibition is to be discovered from Friday, May 16 at the Galerie de l’Infante, at the port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Three artists from the department invest the premises to present their creations until the end of the month. Sylvie Estaynou, Franck Musart and Valérie Camy met during a training dedicated to the life of an artist. From this meeting was born a bond, to lead to this project of common exhibition in the City of Corsairs.

1 Meeting a trip

Of the three, she is the only native to the Basque Country. A native of Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, Sylvie Estaynou has been a painter for ten years. Retired after a career as a business chief, she discovered her vocation during a trip to Australia, in 2013. “I discovered Aboriginal pointillism and I had a real crush. When I returned, I studied techniques and, in the years that followed, I got into it seriously. »»

This style is to make a series of tight points which, although aligned, do not mix. She exhibited in Parisian galleries and even in Istanbul. Recently, she participated in Udazken’art, exhibiting in the Peñas Bayonnaises. It was not her first come to Saint-Jean-de-Luz either: two years ago, she presented her works to the Basque bar brewery. “I do not paint landscapes or mountains. I leave people the freedom to imagine, starting from colors that slam. »»

I do not paint landscapes or mountains. I leave people the freedom to imagine, starting from colors that slam.

2 Les constellations

Originally from Pau, Franck Musart is a self -taught painter. He too practices pointillism, inspired by Aboriginal art. No trip to Australia, but a striking meeting during an exhibition in Bordeaux. “I immediately knew that I wanted to do this painting. It matured, I started in my workshop. I decided to work in large formats (80 x 80) and tell in my paintings a story through our constellations. »»

With its very colorful landscapes, its animals, its symbols and its patterns, the artist explores the links between myth and astronomy. His adventure begins during the first confinement linked to the health crisis. Teacher by training, he then opened a hypnosis cabinet. “When I paint, I am in a hypnotic state, a different state. This often gives dreamlike landscapes, quite abstract. Since his first exhibition in Pau a year ago, he showed his work in Ajaccio and Salies-de-Béarn.

When I paint, I am in a hypnotic state, a different state. This often gives dreamlike landscapes, quite abstract.

3 women’s sculpture

Installed in Béarn, Valérie Camy was first photographer in Paris. In 1995, she began a retraining at the Tarbes Arts School, where she specialized in sculpture. Today it gives lessons in this area, as well as in artisanal pottery. She also practices abstract painting.

But it was four years ago, during confinement, that she truly embarked on sculpture as an artist. “I work on women. I pay special attention to the eyes. I want to give life to my characters. It comes from a puppet show that I set up thirty years ago. Give life to inert objects fascinated me, and I did not find this feeling in painting. »»

I pay special attention to the eyes. I want to give life to my characters. Give life to inert objects fascinated me, and I did not find this feeling in painting.

His works look like him. “I am insomniac, and one of these women is all black, wrapped in her blue hair that symbolize the Milky Way. She has the moon planted in her head, because she cannot sleep, with her eyes wide open. “She describes her art as” not very Catholic “, because of the materials used: acrylic, where most ceramists use enamel or slip.

4 Color to unite these worlds

The three artists exhibiting at the Infante gallery share many similarities, but also differences. Sylvie Estaynou and Franck Musart both explore pointillism. “I would say that at Franck, these are very tight little points, while at Sylvie, it’s more aborigine, with separate points,” says Valérie Camy.

According to the trio, another difference lies in the colors: more vivid and vibrant for one, softer and soothing for the other. The two painters, whose techniques are echoed, wanted to invite a ceramist artist whose colors’ choices naturally make the link between their universes.

Everyone starts in the community and mainly share the same difficulties: living from your art and managing to make themselves known in an “extremely competitive” market. The meeting with the Luzien audience is a new step. The opening will take place on Saturday May 17 from 6 p.m.