HAF was granted the opportunity to conduct an exclusive interview that features Hervé’s outstanding Armature installation at Fondation Clement, which runs through November 3. This arrangement presents a series of intricately crafted figures standing 4 meters (13 feet) high that serve as magnificent symbols of history, resilience, freedom, and so much more.
As an accomplished visual artist Hervé Beuze has dedicated himself to producing a remarkable range of imaginative interpretations. In addition to painting and sculpting, Beuze is renowned for his monumental installations. It must be noted that words alone cannot accurately describe the high level of sophistication, craftsmanship and storytelling these unique installments convey. More recently, he has dedicated his artistic commitment to musing the identities, memories and the topography of his island home of Martinique.
HAF: Very impressive work! Larger than life size is refreshing. Would you tell us a little about the Armature installation that opened at Fondation Clement?
Hervé: I représent a crowd composed with walking couples. Each couple has a special title coming from our Caribbean history. This exposure is presented in a room called the “Nef,” and it belong to most powerful business man of Martinique. In Latin “Nef” means boat. So this room reminds me of the slavery boat. But all his occupants are standing up and are walking.
HAF: Can you talk about these important historical Caribbean events?
Hervé: The titles are: genesis, resilience, freedom, digenesis, flower flower and connected. The couple “genesis” represents the slavery period. The couple” resilience” represents the capacity of the descending population to resist inside from this troubled period. The couple “freedom” is standing in the middle of a ring of arms cut in black paper. The couple “flower flower” shows man in link with nature. The couple “connected” talks about the World Wide Web—the new form of control of human.
HAF: How long have you been working at such large scale?
Hervé: I have been working in such scale since ten years of age. But it was in order to create the famous character of Martinican carnival called “vaval.” It is a huge mascotte (an object supposed to bring good luck or used as the symbol) burned at the end of our carnival. Also I made a residence in the little island in gorée in Sénégal in 2013. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhek5SL2uDE)
HAF: How would you describe your method for creating this large scale work? Do you have construction assistance?
Hervé: I only had help from some friends and my wife to paint the last part of the operation. Otherwise I began with creating my own molding of my body for man model. And after I choose the most important line of this model, I drew it on the floor according the size I wanted to reach. And after that, I bent the metal and welded each strip.
HAF: In addition to metal, what other materials did you use on this installation?
Hervé: I use mostly sheet metal for construction from cars for example, resins, fiber glass and specific acrylic.
HAF: Besides all that you do as an accomplished artist, can you tell HAF something interesting about yourself for which most people are unaware?
Hervé: Beside my artistic activity I am a teacher of volume and ceramic in the High Visual Art School in Martinique; I am in link with young artists of the Caribbean, because our school is open to all Caribbean students; and I think we (the people of Martinique) need to be in connection with North American artists since we have similar societies. (See Campus Caribbean’s des Arts: http://cca-martinique.com/)
ART HABITATION VISITE
Armature
Exposition d’Hervé BEUZE
du 16 SEPTEMBRE au 3 NOVEMBRE 2016
Salle la Nef – FONDATION CLEMENTRENSEIGNEMENTS
www.fondation-clement.org
facebook.com/fondationclement
Tel: 05 96 54 75 51
Michael K. Shelton, USA: Senior Visual Design & Website Director and contributing writer
Thank you so much shelton brothers!!