Do you miss An tan lontan* ?
Flash back in a West Indian universe, mixed and colored under the brushes of the talented Ludovic Pozzo. The artist makes us (re)discover our Caribbean cultural origins with a series of atypical paintings that he imagined.
*An tan lontan, Creole expression, means “the old time”, word for word “the time before”
C – You take us back in time, with your exotic paintings tracing eras, moments, fashion, and Creole cultures. What inspires you the most?
L – I consider that what is far away is always more attractive than what we have in front of us because it feeds the imagination, it is like going on an adventure. My exotic paintings may suggest the trip but I just wanted to find a way to paint in the manner of the Great Masters of painting by drawing on my own culture.
« It was only during my high school studies during art history classes that something clicked « Painting is for me »
C – When did you start painting? What are your main creative tools?
L – I never learned drawing. In chronological order, I started very early to develop an artistic sense, I still have fresh memories of kindergarten when the teacher drew next to me I corrected his drawings in my head! (…) It was only during my high school studies during art history classes that something clicked « Painting is for me »
One day, during my exhibition a person told me that she thought it was about different painters because of the variety of styles »
C – How does Caribbean culture influence you in your artworks?
L -I do not know what I will paint tomorrow. The Caribbean culture has served as a springboard as a theme to get into a series of paintings. It was without looking too far, tell me myself where I come from …
The sun is my engine of creativity because it gives me all its intensity to colors in life. I like exoticism, distant lands and even past eras, it speaks to me and inspires me. I work according to my bubbling imagination which following a feeling, a word, or a sound, will make emerge in my mind a finished painting, after I have only to realize it.
One day, during my exhibition a person told me that she thought it was about different painters because of the variety of styles.
C – You have a strong Indian influence too, that we notice with your remake of Mona Lisa or “Goodbye madras”. Where does your family come from in the Caribbean?
L – I am lucky to have many origins, my father is from Martinique. My mother is Indian from Guadeloupe. This Indian influence comes from my family naturally. From the history of my ancestors I make historic paintings as for « 22 Mai : Le Dessin Couleur Cacao » (May 22: The drawing cocoa color) and « Adieu Madras » (Goodbye Madras). As Picasso said, “paintings are memories that one writes oneself».
« I love all my paintings without distinction because they tell all, a step in my life »
C – What is the artwork you are most proud of, and why?
L – I am never proud but rather satisfied to see an evolution in my work, I am also a spectator of what I do because I never know where I am going! For example, my greatest joy of the moment is my last painting «Benji dans la nuit» (Benji in the night), with this painting I reconciled myself with the blue color that I appreciated moderately!
I love all my paintings without distinction because they all tell a step in my life, but there is one that has a special flavor « La mulâtresse au Diamant » (The mulatto at the Diamond). Indeed it is the first table that marks the end of experimentation and the beginning of maturity technical level, it is thanks to it that we follow all the others. This pictorial adventure I started at 20 years old.
C – Do you have any advice for those who want to get into art, painting ?
L – There is not really a recipe, each artist must live his own evolution. It is important to know the drawing and the history of Art. Everything comes from trying things. Failures, doubt, indifference are ingredients that shape the artist in the making. In life there are thousands of colors and therefore thousands of ways to go, there is something for everyone and therefore everyone can find his own.
Ludovic makes us discover the essence of its Guadeloupe and Martinican origins. A true report from the West Indies, which fills the Caribeart mag team with pride. Ludovic is a big favorite!
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