She is French, creative, and living in Macau for 25 years.
She has a slim look, the eyes are blue, shaded black, very penetrating. Here and there, one can find a glance between amusement and irony.
It is the second exhibition of Armelle De Lainsecq, and it is not surprising. Also permitted a reunion with her husband, Jacques Lenantec, sculptor.
When we look at the photomontages of Armelle De Lainsecq, we inevitably find ourselves faced with delusions that may lead to the classification of surrealists, but I do not think so. They are rather a keen observation of reality and its personal interpretation of reality, its own truth.
The artist produced three series called "Macao Illusions", "All in One" and "Dechronologies".
Armelle De Lainsecq questions what she sees and feels and builds an unmasked world, where all the people fall so that what they supposedly hide appears naked, like the urban circus where the condiment of irony reigns.
Armelle De Lainsecq thus proposes three readings, one that is naturally dear to me, that of the city and its present truth - Macao Illusions - another, the appropriation and manipulation of paintings by Rembrandt, Cézanne, Manet, Delacroix and others, where the technical requirement is exquisitely evident in brilliant reconstructions that seem to inquire with a "what if ..." and that are from the series "All in One" and a third, "Dechronologies" where, with a photo manipulation technique, creatively updates characters from other times.
In all cases we are before someone with a remarkable analytical ability, and an ironic indisputable, integrating a family of artists, like his husband, the sculptor Jacques Lenantec and Vincent, the son who makes tattoos.
All this circulation by the territories of what exists exogenously, but especially by its interpretation, requires a space where one can meditate and speculate on these areas.
Hence the understandable seclusion for the decanting between the appearance of the real and the reality that exists only within us.
The portrait appeared later, and with it dead natures, broken limbs, an obsession with the portrait of reality, the same quest for perfection residing in its photomontages.
And it was there that the conversation was born, after the inauguration of its Exhibition at Creative Center, worthy of a visit by the Macao public.
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THE IRONY OF REALISM
António Conceição Júnior
How long have you been living in Macao?
A.L.: From 1983 to 1992, then 2001 until now, a total of 25 years.
Why Macao? And why the Lilau area?
A.L.: Macao in 1983 for professional reasons. At that time, my husband was looking for bronze foundries in Asia . A French friend invited us to Macao, saying that Macao was a good place to start searching bronze foundry in the region. In fact, we did not find any foundry but fell in love with Macao! Climate, food, exotism. And in 1983, we set up an atelier to cast the sculptures of my husband.
How do you relate your choice of living in Macao and in an historical area and today's Macao?
A.L.: We bought an apartment in 1990 Rua de Lilau ( at an affordable price, laughs). Then we bought a storage luckily at the ground floor in 2004 (still at an affordable price more laugs). So we stood in this area which is quiet!
Do you consider yourself as having an ironic personality?
A.L.: Yes, completely. But with respect always. More a sense of humour, in fact. But also I have a great sense of self-derision.
How did the series of "All in One", Manet, Rembrandt, Cézanne and the others appear? Why?
A.L.: Between my "Macau Illusions" series and my "all in One", I have worked on personalities portraits, That I called "dechronologies". For example, I took the portrait of the king Louis XIV and with photoshop, I tried to know what he should have looked like today. Very funny. I have made the portrait of about 50 personalities likes this.
As I was looking for paintings to do these "dechronologies" I started to know a lot of masters and a lot of paintings. Naturally, I discovered the style of the masters and saw that great masters or not, sometimes their painting were "funny" and repetitive. The idea to make "all in one" came from this discovery.
The Cathedral
The Great Wall
Breaking the Cage
I remember your first exhibition at the Macau Creative. By then you only had digital collages. What made you go into portraits? Does your entrance into the world of drawing represents an inner statement.
A.L.: After photoshopping so many artists, I found that it was easy to criticize ironically. The last painter,"All in One" that I attempted to do was Picasso with Guernica. I never finished because I have been disgusted by this painting that I found ugly. At that time exactly, I decided to draw. To show that I was not only able to criticize. I draw portraits but also cats as I am a cat lover, and any subject that inspires me likes the broken trees after typhoon Hato, or recently Chinese food. I like to focus on details.
I started to draw on 1st January 2016, 10-12 hours a day, at least . Every day, from sunrise to sunset. All the year, except when I am obliged to travel.
Mario
Tchune
Le Nantec
Why the irony about Picasso, Manet or even Rembrandt? What is behind it?
A.L.: Picasso: I have absolutely no emotion when I see Guernica and all of his works.
Manet: ha ha ha. Why a nude lady between 2 dressed men having a lunch on the grass? It is an absolute ridiculous situation.
Rembrandt: Here, no criticism. Just I had the idea to put women, instead of men, around the dead body. Just for fun.
… But I have much more to show you.: Delacroix, Leonard de Vinci, Ingres, Courbet, David, Bouguereau.
Do you take commissions?
A.L.: Yes. After drawing about 100 portraits for free and also for training, I start to have commissions. I had 3 last month and I have 4 new commissions to do. And some more to come. It is when I draw portraits that I am the most serious! Because I really want people to be happy with their portraits. I consider all my models as VIP, at any age. I enjoy to find the details that will reveal charm or beauty in any person I draw.
How do you view the art scene in Macao?
A.L.: Ha ha ha ! I don't feel concerned at all. And I don't care at all. I am not at all politically correct in this matter so I prefer to shut up.
Of course, there are good artists in Macao. I recently discovered Filipe Dores who has a lot of talent.
I understand you are a rather reclusive person. Why is that?
A.L.: I have never been a social person. I have very few friends. They all know that I am a bit "wild". All of them have played an important role in my life, this is the condition to get my friendship forever. Except these true friends, I don't feel the need of company, except the company of my cats. Yes I am reclusive and I like the music of silence, not the noise of music. I am happy in front of a computer or in front of a sheet of paper.
Why is this need for time? Do you want to leave a body of work behind?
A.L.: I started late to have a full time artistic activity for myself after having been an artist-wife for decades. Artist-wife is a full time job . My husband is a sculptor, and wow this is a very complicated art. I have worked hard with him. I know everything about sculpture from the clay to the bronze process. But, 2 years ago, for professional and personal reasons, I decided to have my own full time activity. The problem is that I started late so I don't want to waste my time. I am in a permanent state of emergency to save my time. Perhaps my time has no value but time is precious to me now.
No, I don't want specially to leave a body of work behind. I am very humble and don't have such pretention.
Rembrandt
David
Rembrandt
Do you consider yourself an artist? Is it important?
A.L.: Yes I consider myself as an artist. I have always been, indirectly. In my way of thinking, or the way of sharing the art of my husband at a high level of collaboration. If I don't draw or "create something", I become extremely nervous, be careful I can be dangerous (laughs)! Let me draw , it's my turn to think of me!
No it is not important to be an artist, except if you are a real genius, and I am not.
Everybody is an artist, at different degrees.
I have noticed that your sale prices are quite affordable. Why is that?
A.L.: Indeed, I want to stay affordable, as you say. Affordable to the people who have not the habit to buy art. When I draw a portrait, I have to show a result with 100% likeness to the model. it is the same work and price for my neighbor selling dim sum at the market and for a very rich person. The simple people know better the value of the things than the rich people. I want to work for simple people. Those who dream to have their portrait and realize that with me it is possible. My target is the middle class. I have excellent relationship with them. They know me, I speak to them in Cantonese (not fluently but enough). They like me and I like people who like me. I want to draw for them in priority. Of course one day, I will increase my prices but this is the only thing for which I am not in a hurry. I respect the value of the work and the work of an artist has not, for me, more value than any other "normal" work. Hey, artists, calm down guys, you are just artists !
Dali
Louis XIV
Mozart
