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Exploring the Sensory Worlds of Julien Laporte: A Conversation with the French artist

18 October 2024

In the vibrant world of contemporary art, few artists capture the essence of nature, memory, and emotion as distinctly as Julien Laporte (b. 1995, Perpignan, France).                                    

His work blends the radiant light of southern France with spontaneous brushstrokes and a passion for fauvism. Inspired by the landscapes of Spain, Catalonia, the Costa Brava and South France, Julien’s art invites viewers into a world of bright, sun-drenched colors, capturing fleeting moments of calm and movement.           

In this exclusive interview, we dive into the heart of his creative process, exploring how music, memory, and the natural world come together on his canvas

Growing up by the Mediterranean has clearly influenced your work. How do the landscapes and light of southern France shape the emotions and themes of your art?                  

Ever since I was a child, I’ve wandered around the Mediterranean Sea and its surroundings. Spain, Catalonia, the Costa Brava and the south of France have been inexhaustible sources of inspiration for me. These places cradled me and saw me grow up. I work on past moments, melancholy but never sad. I want them to be warm, welcoming, like an invitation to travel. I learn to collect images as I go, so that I can later paint and immortalize them. I play with the limits of memory and imagination, and this is what nourishes my paintings. Our region is very generous, with no shortage of inspiration between the sea and the mountains.

Your use of bright, sun-drenched colors seems almost festive. Do you try to evoke a particular mood or feeling with your palette?                       

I try to work with bright colors as often as possible, mixing them directly on the canvas. The faster I do it, the more intact the memory. What’s important in my painting is the feeling the canvas gives off, not its representation. I try to give the viewer a state of well-being.

Many people describe your painting style as instinctive and spontaneous. Can you explain your creative process? How do you capture life’s fleeting moments?                                    

The word spontaneous has a lot to do with my painting. The idea is to reproduce the image that is created from my memories. I often think back to the places that have inspired me, those that my memory has selected. These are suspended moments, moments of walking, of meditation, when memory focuses on a point of view, a color, a whole. Once the image has been found, the music that accompanies me during the creation of the work will amplify the memory of that moment and help me to project it into the past. I often listen to classical music to give my paintings a certain resonance. Then the painting will gradually take shape, often rapidly, to the rhythm of the music that accompanies me.

Your work has been compared to the Fauves in terms of color and energy. How do you see yourself in relation to this artistic movement, and are you intentionally inspired by it?         

The use of color and subject matter has always been mechanical in my painting. I look a lot at the work of Derain and Matisse, and that must be reflected in my paintings. I like the simplicity of this movement, using simple, honest paint and subject matter. We forget the search for detail or reality and get closer to the sensations and emotions we feel. Fauvism is the movement that has inspired me most in the way it represents and uses colors. I like the idea of simple painting. In a way, I try to take up the codes of this movement in my own way. I include music in my process and paint in my studio.

Your paintings give off both a sense of movement and calm. How do you manage to balance these contrasting elements to create such a unique atmosphere?                             

The contrast between movement and calm occurs at the end of the painting. It’s the final touch. I like to be able to work on my flat areas before going into minimum detail, which creates a certain depth in my paintings. The detail will anchor the eye more deeply and give a better sense of immersion. A certain harmony will emerge between the smoother and more spontaneous areas of the painting.

Your art invites viewers to discover the world through a contemplative lens. What deeper meanings or narratives do you hope people will take away from your work?                            

I like it when the viewer has the opportunity to experience an emotion of calm and fullness. The different angles I paint are to be experienced as a panorama or a personal immersion. I invite the viewer to recall or imagine the atmosphere of the painting if it came to life. The sun burning on the skin, the sound of water dying on the rocks, the freshness of the wind in the hair.

The Mediterranean region is rich in history and culture. Beyond its natural beauty, do you draw your inspiration from its cultural or historical aspects?                                        

Coming back to Fauvism, we have the town of Collioure, which is steeped in history and saw the beginnings of this movement. I go back there from time to time to soak up the visions of these artists, who have shown us this town and its distinctive colors in their own way.

Your depictions of everyday scenes seem to emphasize the simplicity and beauty of the mundane. What importance do you attach to the significance of these small moments?         

I like to depict beauty in simplicity. At the bend in the road, at the bottom of a garden, on the rocky shores of the Costa Brava. Often where the eye doesn’t rest long enough. I like to accentuate and lengthen these timeless moments so that they take on a whole new value. I call them “suspended moments”.

Having grown up in a family of winegrowers, do you see any parallels between the art of winemaking and that of painting? Are there common themes of patience, craftsmanship and connection with nature?                                 

I was able to work with my family in the vineyards, and the sensation of touch and contemplation was present from a very early age. A few images have stayed with me from that period, in particular the pebbles at the foot of the vines and their knotted bodies. The cypress trees lining the fields and the little houses in the middle of the fields. The manual side of both jobs encourages creativity. I could see the passion for the craft in my parents’ eyes, and I’m very grateful to have been able to find mine in painting. When you love what you do, and put your love into it, it can only be good.

What are you currently working on and how has your art evolved over the years? Are there any new themes or techniques you’re keen to explore ?                                                                

My subjects haven’t changed much, I’m still just as fascinated by nature and what surrounds us. I put more emphasis on spontaneity, which I find is the purest way to come from the heart. I’d really like to do a visual and sound exhibition that combines the paintings and music I listen to during the  creation of the large-format work with dance.

Closing Thoughts

Julien Laporte’s ability to transform memories and emotions into vibrant, sun-soaked landscapes is a testament to his unique artistic vision. His spontaneous approach, deeply rooted in the Mediterranean’s natural beauty and fauvist inspiration, offers a refreshing invitation to slow down and appreciate the simplicity of life’s fleeting moments. Through his art, Julien reminds us that beauty lies not only in grand gestures but also in the quiet, “suspended moments” that make up our everyday existence.

As he continues to explore new horizons, combining painting, music, and even dance, it’s clear that Julien’s journey is just beginning—and we can’t wait to see where it takes him next. Stay tuned for more updates on his upcoming projects and exhibitions, and don’t forget to follow him for an inside look at his creative process. Click here to follow the artist on Instagram: @julienlaporte

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