Artist 21-5-2014 A profile of Cyril Jean-Claude Van Damme Cyril Jean, better known as a musician on his native island of Praslin – is also quite the artist. And not only that - he illustrates his art using ball point pens and has produced over 100 pieces of art to date. Speaking to “TODAY” Cyril shares some of his thoughts on his work: “To me, art is discovery. It is a kind of wealth that we all carry deep inside us – something that some of us need to recognize and express in physical form. All forms of art have something in common. Musical notes are akin to putting pen to paper as painting an image allows you to immerse yourself in your art and forget daily constraints.”. So, how did it all start? “It all began when I was experimenting on doing sketches on cloth,” says Cyril. “I was not sure of the outcome, but I noticed how well the ink set and started to explore other surfaces that were more suitable, until I settled for the type of waterproof canvas that I use now. I originally made black and white drawings, but eventually started to add colours to my sketches.” Indeed, upon seeing the vibrant shades and Cyril’s close attention to detail, one would be forgiven for assuming that the illustrations were painted rather that drawn. “Tourists and artists alike have been very supportive of my work,” says Cyril – who adds that he draws a lot of satisfaction from his work. “But artists need more encouragement from the authorities,” he stresses, adding that whilst a lot of emphasis is placed on sports and other activities, much less is spent in supporting our local artists. “Art transcends culture. It has no borders, which is why artists can relate to all other individuals and cultures,” Cyril points out. There is one particular piece of work that he holds close to his heart. “I lost my father to cancer late last year, and I felt compelled to put my emotions to canvas by illustrating ‘Semen Lavi’ or ‘The path of life’,” says Cyril, with an air of sadness. “Once you are diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, you become a soldier – as you have to fight for your life. The magazine and bullets represent the medication he took to try and save his life. The dove represents his spirit, the frangipani flowers his closest siblings, the rose that rests by the soldier’s helmet – his spouse, who had also passed on and the 9 smaller flowers in the background are his children – that also includes myself,” Cyril explains as he points to his work of art. “The whole illustration is highlighted by the setting sun in the background, which depicts the ebbing phase of his life,” he adds. “I will continue doing what I love. I will never stop – as I always begin a new project as soon as I complete the last one,” confirms the artist, who points out that he is continuously improving with practice. “Every stroke has to be precise,” he notes, adding, “Not being able to erase your mistakes makes you more resilient and more adaptive as an artist – just as it does in everyday life.” Source: Today in Seychelles
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 05:50:10 +0000
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