Interview with Jean Jacques Porret — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

Jean Jacques Porret’s surreal sculptures transcend the mere human form they represent and instead draw the viewer in with their delicate expressionism, rhythmic movement, and abstract sensuality. The work is never about the figure, but the emotions expressed in the tension of his fluid curves and precariou balance. Though abstract in nature, the recognisable form and innate humanity residing within each piece is impossible to ignore.

Could you please introduce yourself and tell us how you started in the arts? and your first experience in art-making?

My parents were collectors and I lived in an art filled home. I started to create wood pieces at my early age of 6 or 8 years old. I did that for some time and stopped to be a naughty teenager. I started again at the age of 28 and never stopped since.

How would you describe yourself and your artwork?

I consider myself an expressionist, as I’m more interested in communicating an abstract feeling or idea than an actual image. My work is figurative, but it’s not about the figure.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Everything in live is inspiration, the beauty of the sun rising on the horizon, the storm over the lake, etc..Unfortunetely, people don’t look at the beauty of things anymore, and basic inspiration is getting lost. I believe my sculptures are sensual, attractive and pleasing to the eyes and to the touch. People don’t need to wonder what it is, what does it look like, what is it supposed to be or look like.

We cannot learn to be a creator, an artist. That’s something one is born with. Lots of people are trying to be artists, but they lack that little crazy item called being creative. To illustrate it, Rembrandt was an excellent painter, yes, but not really creative. Van Gogh was in comparison, maybe not a great painter but a fantastic creator. Both of them were great artist.

What emotions do you hope the viewers experience when looking at your art?

Before answering this question one should define the word ART and the word CREATIVE. Everyone would have a different definition. For me it’s related to IMAGINATION. I do not know the dictionary definition, but creating is for the cook to use just the right amount of salt in the potatoes, knowing when it’s too much or not enough. Look at Jacques Peppin, the perfect artist in cooking, no cook book, no tele-prompter, he just do it, he create a meal, using his feeling, his imagination.

I try to be myself, independent, not to be influence by others, creating my own path. I love sculpting and live with things that are attractive, sensual and pleasing to the eye and enjoyable, that’s stimulate my creativity.

When do you know that an artwork is finished?

It’s never is. However at one point one need to go on, to turn the page, go to the next one.

What has been the most exciting moment in your art career so far?

Most probably my visiting some of the great sculptutors of the 60s, 70s, and 80s like Henry Moore, Ramseyer, Poncet etc. some of whom had obviously influence my work. But not anymore. I constantly need to be very careful and reject being influenced. I create my own style, my own path, I create out of my imagination.