Jean Francois Helye 03
|
Creation is like a necessity.
Jean Francois Helye 04
|
Jean-François HélyeArtist in Cérences
Meet Jean-François Hélye
Why did you choose to call your venue “La Galerie de H”?
H for Hélye, of course. But also H for the symbol of Higgs, the English scientist who in 1964 used an equation to suppose that a new, unknown particle would appear if protons collided at high speed, which was demonstrated in 2012! The Higgs Bozon. I love the idea of energy and transformation. And it’s a mysterious, silent, but essential letter.
How long has this gallery existed?
Almost three years now. It’s located in Cérences, at number 48 – even though the numbers here sometimes change! It’s a bit of a hybrid: part studio, part gallery, part concert stage, part place for artistic experimentation.
Galerie H Cerences
|
Cerences Galerie H
|
The H gallery in Cérences
How would you describe the world of Galerie de H?
It’s eclectic and abundant. There’s oil painting, drawing, a bit of sculpture and even poetry. I write texts, poems and aphorisms that can be mixed with a painting or a drawing. I try to mix disciplines. There are creations linked to my texts, illustrations… It’s always buzzing around here!
Where does this urge to create come from?
Ever since I was a kid. I grew up in a very rural area, in the middle of nowhere. Boredom and isolation drove me to invent and build. I used to make aeroplanes and sculptures… and painting came along around the age of 9. After that, even when I had a ‘normal’ working life, I was always bringing home materials to create with after work.
Jean Francois Helye Gallery
|
Did you have any artistic training?
Not the classic academic route, no. But I was lucky enough to take classes with David Lewis, an English painter based in the English Channel. He taught me a lot of techniques and high standards. And then I continued to learn, on my own, copying the masters at first, then developing my own style.
How do you come up with your work?
Sometimes all at once, from a word, a colour, an emotion. I’ve learned to structure my ideas with sketches and studies. But I always leave room for impulse. Sometimes I’ve painted from a photograph taken at a market, from a play of light… I’m very instinctive.
Jean Francois Helye 05
|
You also work with unexpected materials such as sea clay…
Yes, I collect grey clay from certain beaches, which I mix with hemp fibres to solidify it. It’s a living, local, raw material. I sometimes experiment with mortar or concrete, but sea clay has a real personality. And then, when a piece falls, it doesn’t break: it’s strong stuff!
Is Galerie de H set to become an artistic third place?
Yes, I’d like to. I’d like to organise concerts, residencies and painting initiation days. I’ve already run workshops as part of a communication course inspired by art therapy. Sharing, passing on and experimenting together: that’s what art is all about for me.
Jean Francois Helye 01
|
Jean Francois Helye 04
|
Jean Francois Helye 02
|
Discover
