> Please introduce yourself, in your own words. What are your interests?
I'm an independent French photographer, based in Brittany, and for a few years I have gathered photos along my travels and through my intuitions. I focus my work on geometric and abstract composition. I am a part of several artistic groups, most notably the Collectif 18-55, with whom I work in order to create and publish general purpose photography. Additionally, I also work on short films. Today I initiate a new association that will focus on artistic projects.
> Where did you begin with artistic endeavours? How did you come across Abstraction or Surrealism?
I started in photography by taking street and territory photos. Then, as time passed, I tended to focus more and more into a part of a particular scene: as I may say, to 'zoom-in' to details. That's where I realised that there are a lot of interesting geometric features around that people usually do not see or at least do not consider to be visually appealing.
> How would you explain the concept of Abstraction or Surrealism to someone with no experience with the genre?
In my point of view, abstraction is a way to express a vision or feelings through explicit media. It is an attempt to focus on the essence of your own surrounding world and to extract only what is necessary. Deconstructing the primary sense of the image; that's my minimalist vision.
> What inspires you to use Abstraction or Surrealism in your work?
Please see my answers to where I began with photography and how I express my artwork to get an idea about what inspires me to use abstraction in my photography.
> What do you want to express with your artwork? What is the idea you're trying to put across?
Today I try to extract details, patterns and aesthetic shapes from architecture or objects in order to find a way (through crop, orientation, or post processing) to exhibit the essence of them. In some cases, I find myself attracted not by the details but by a juxtaposition of objects or plans. In those cases, I have a more surrealist approach and I'm bound to play with the space surrounding me in order to try to create illusional effects, some kind of 'trompe-l'oeil'. I love when people question themselves by looking at the picture:with thoughts of "whats is that? isn't it upside down?". I gladly answer these questions so that eventually the way people at their environments will change so that they themselves start to search for oddities and appealing geometric features.
> What are your 'tools of the trade'? How do you create your art?
For my Rêves d'urbanisme series, I mostly use a Canon 5D or 7D with a long focal lens (mostly 105mm). I'm bound to buy a longer focal in order to reduce the visual perspective when, in some cases, I'm searching for a 'flat' image. I also have a medium format Yashica Mat 124G which I use for wider angle and to capture different aesthetic, mostly for portraiture, urban and street photography. I see myself as a 'square-eyed' person. When I look at a scene, I can't focus on what's happening outside of that central squared vision. That's why I mostly don't see what stands outside the frames I use, even though most of my abstract shots were taken with my 24x36 digital camera.
> Do you think the quality of a piece depends more upon technical perfection, or the message contained therein?
My answer would be in between. You definitely have to think about the message or the idea you want to express in your work, even though sometimes you also have to shoot more randomly in order to experience new visions. Beside that, the technicality is also very important as firstly, mastering the techniques will give you more time to think about the message, and secondly the aesthetic and compositional component of your pictures have to match the message and the mood you want to pass through your work.
> Who are your favourite visual artists, and why?
Strangely, in photography, I'm mostly touched by territory, urban photography and journalism. I'm very fond of the 'New Topographers'; Dorothea Lange, and Cedric Delsaux. I'm also quite amazed by the renovated vision of cities that recent (and even sometimes amateur) photographers have, for instance: Patrick Joust, 'Mannequin-', and 'TerrorKitten'. In geometric works I'm inspired by Kandinsky, Escher, Mondrian, and Delaunay; who I think made one of the key works in abstraction with geometry. For recent photographers, I'd advise 'Une-vache', 'Einsilbig', 'crh', and 'Daruma'.
> Which dA Groups would you recommend to someone looking to get involved with abstract and surreal art?
> What advice would you give to an absolute beginner in the genre?
Take the time needed to elaborate your goals, and meditate on your thoughts and feelings. When you have reached enough consideration about what you want to express, then you can search for 'how' to express it. Never forget to also leave space for intuition and for wandering, as you would be surprised at how ideas grow in your mind from random encounters. My point of view on technicality: never search for perfection, you'll probably lose your inspiration along the way: but experiment, experiment experiment!
> Any final words on abstract and surreal art?
Express yourself through any kind of media, but do it in a manner that you can afterwards think of your work as a projection of your mind.
> In conclusion, pick nine works from your Favourites that you particularly enjoy.
