French
Portrait
Born
in France, in Arras in 1965 from a working family in the ‘Pas de
Calais’ region, Olivier amongst his 5 siblings, is the only one
to be attracted to the artistic ways and from his youngest age he displayed
a sure gift for drawing.
After a more than ordinary
scholastic path he entered into the ‘Beaux Arts’ school
of Douai in 1985. He then discovers a true talent for painting when
never before had
he touched a brush. At the same time another natural gift arose,
this time more on the vocal side and spanning as many as three octaves
that
he lets out in the emptiness of deserted churches.
Artist to the tip
of his painted finger nails, he is seen at that time diving right
into the punk rock universe of Nina Hagen, every morning spicing
up his
look by comparing his face to an empty canvas and his body to a sculpture
he created. He then carefully treads on the paths of past painters,
authors and surrealist singers all such as Magritte, André Breton
and many more.
Olivier is soon noticed by a producer
and records under the BMG label his single “Some music plays”,
an astonishing encounter between Dance music and opera. From television
sets to radio channels and from promotional tours to the quiet streets
of his home town he leaves an impression on everyone he encounters.
The 90s see his aspirations turn to helping
people in need. While still singing and painting he goes on to setting
up work shops of artistic expression in the realm of singular arts.
The concept was based on the retrieval of used objects to transform
them into unique masterpieces. Artistic passion and human compassion
mix more and more leading him to specialized education for which
he received a degree in 1998. His weapon of choice: the artistic
dynamism at the service of the individual. From then on he will sacrifice
all his energy to thinking, analyzing, conceiving and creating new
tools to help him teach. Convinced that there is art in all of us,
he gives body and soul to pass on that message.
After 10 years in the social helping sector, now stronger through
that experience, he decides to take on another human adventure:
traveling around the world. On the African continent
in 2005, moved by the plastic and spiritual beauty of the people,
he feels for the first time the desire to paint Man. On site,
his tools
always
at hand,
he
paints
frenetically,
almost
even obsessively.
In him, both man and artist are deeply moved. He then understands that an unavoidable
turning point is to happen in his life.
Back in France, he puts a hold on his
educational activities and locks himself in his workshop to create a series of
paintings that would testify for his experience. Moved by a sudden urge to share
his feelings he scratches, rips, and covers his canvas with the brightest of
color settings. His wild passion is expressed through a multitude of colors mixing
with no hesitation the violence of contrast with the smoothness of the simplest
of lines. […] His determination is peaceful, just as the captivating looks
of the subjects he paints and their energy his very successfully attempts to
materialize.
[…] Having his talents requested for a big French music-hall
he expands his color palette and adapts his treatment so that he can carry out
a series of paintings about a universe of entertainment for which he is fascinated.
As a Humanist Artist, Olivier Runembert witnesses and questions the own human
condition of everyone of us through his creations. In May 2007 he takes off from
mainland to land in the French West Indies on the island of Sint Marteen.
In april 2008 he participates in his first auction in Guadeloupe.
To be continued...
by A. Livingstone
Photo : Pierre Pontier