I am a geographer. As such, I have always been interested in landscapes, both rural and urban with a preference for landscapes shaped by the hand of man.

By profession, I was involved in rural development – as such I learnt to “read” and understand landscapes, and to measure the impact of people on their environment : how they were farming the land, modifying the natural landscapes, building their houses, their sheds, or manufacturing, constructing new roads, and so on…

And I believe that my paintings are the translations of this interest in what people are creating and modifying and the new landscapes that emerge. They might also just reflect my interest in people…



My artworks revolve around 3 concepts :

• space : On arriving in South Africa, especially when you come from Europe, everybody is struck, of course, by the imensity of everything : the natural spaces, and also the humanized environments, which have been influenced by Nature and History : fields, mines, plants , roads…

• city : Living in Johannesburg, I have been, since my arrival, very impressed by the city : its energy - so vibrant - its people - so numerous and so different - the colours - so rich and bright – its architecture - so contrasting – urbanism, so “special”… a real kaleïdoscope. Although Johannesburg is a difficult city to live in, it is definitively fascinating…. A real city.

• Nature in the city : Built up areas and vegetation are very much blended in Johannesburg, almost everywhere : from the real forest of the Northern suburbs, to the “koppies” with indigeneous vegetation, the parks, the golfs courses, the cemeteries ; even downtown vegetation is present with big trees. It is the lack of vegetation that emphasizes the thoughness of townships ?