T. I. F. Stories
By Tatsumi Shinoda (Selection Director for Tokyo International Forum Artwork)
Artworks Gathered in “Ship of Diversity” 7
Claude Viallat
Southern France is a region drenched in sunlight and very colorful. Above all, Nimes is a beautiful town. The town, which is the origin of the name of the fabric, denim, is historically famous for fabric. The old times and today are mixed. At the side of an ancient Roman site, there is a square-shaped glass-walled modern museum. At the sea side, there is a place which is close to a primitive stratum.
The artist who lives in this town and who represents southern France is Viallat. At the ancient Roman field, endemic bullfighting in southern France is performed even today, and in a vast sunflower firm and yellow of petal, dark brown of the large circle and green of leaves are forming in lines. The roof of a house in the color of the loquat fruit is in cinnabar like the surface of unglazed ware. Traditional shirts in potpourri pattern. Flower and trees in the park where there is a fountain.
In the works of Viallat, which decorates the Tokyo International Forum, it seems all of these things are fully made use of. It is very colorful. When I visited Viallat’s home in Nimes, his wife Enrietta prepared a good lunch made of minced cod. His own work was put on the wall. It was as if the house is full of the joy of living.
Red edging of the painting looking like lined-up broad beans and splashes of paints are livening the canvas. It is his style not to frame his work as he wants to show the canvas as fabric.
In this way, Viallat is excellent in painting theory. Theoretical Viallat has been holding many large exhibitions in Paris. After knowing the joy of living in his hometown, he does not devote himself only to theory. When you speak of the joy of living, it reminds me of the mellowness of Matisse. Viallat’s painting is originated from Matisse of southern France.
What does his pattern painting, looking like lined-up broad beans, represent? He has tried various things: making knots in straw-rope, drawing simple figures on stones and driftwood and making a handprint with a lot of pigment on his hand. It is a theory that the tracing that human beings tried first, impulsively, has led to art.
The shape of repetitive simple patterns is a primitive impulse of human beings, and it is easy to remember and keep in your memory as it leads to modern semasiology. Isn’t this what Viallat wants to appeal to people?
Was it coincidental that potpourri-packed bags reminded me of Viallat’s painting? I thought along these lines while drinking espresso in the town where ancient memory and modern times are mixed.
[Trays of Roberta]
Location: B Block, 7F Lobby
photo cSadamu Saito
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“Ship of Diversity” = Artwork Collection Concept of the Tokyo International Forum
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