Artistic creation is an inexhaustible enigma. It aims at much more than merely output and return. Creating is laying oneself open to raw materials and to others. Creating is a long and patient quest which requires to dare to let go and unveil a part of oneself. Creativity is not about producing something merely beautiful or too realistic. It is about creating something which speaks to the mind, unveils a part of oneself and moves others, disturbs, goes behind the reality of things, arouses emotion.
I enjoy observing human beings. I imagine how and what they really are, what they are hiding behind their appearance (their body, their face, their glance, their skin, their clothes… everything which unveils or hides). I also like to think of how and what people are living behind their flat's or house's windows. This is not about unsane curiosity but rather about a sincere and profound interest for human gender and the way they interact with eachother in a society.
By sculpting I also try to communicate emotions inspired by human beings : a pregnant woman holding her child's hand, a child resting on his father's shoulder, fighters, a man seeking the healing from Above, a largely overweight couple firmly anchored in the ground,...
More and more I want my works to tell a story based on concrete elements like our planet, a cage, an egg or even a vegetable. Poetry, philosophy, psychology are behind those stories which are all parts of my personal, constructive and interesting path so far.
Life has brought me to different countries for travelling or for living. I have hence been confronted with different cultures and working methods. In each workshop I came across different artists and was introduced to new materials, techniques and experiences. All those people contributed to stimulate my eagerness to move forward in the artistic world. I will always keep their precious advice with me.
Profoundly inspired by Alberto Giacometti for many years - I am never bored to admire his «walking man» or «the capsizing man» - and more recently by Constantin Brancusi, I am more and more directing myself towards simple shapes which look like adequate symbols of more essential values. Because simple shapes are perfect like an egg of a sphere, there is however nothing more difficult than sculpting them. Even the tiniest imperfection is highly visible. This is also probably where the interesting subtility is… Finding an implicit way to attract the visitor's eye, to arouse his desire to think further.
I use various materials (metal, iron wire, bronze, wood, plaster, aluminium,…) which I carefully select in order to most appropriately emphasise the expression I am aiming at. Iron wire is cold, hostile.
When sculpting, I am disconnected from the material reality. I get out of time, forget all constraints, living in a world of creativity and passion. Everytime I am amazed to see something appearing out of nothing, just as a result of the simple work of my hands. Every single time it feels like giving birth. Like Michelangelo said : « I saw an angel in the marble and I only carved until I freed it ».
Sculpting brings me a lot of pleasure, joy and excitement. Each one of those sculptures is a part of me. Each one was born, inspired by my past, my sensitivity, the values I respect. I hope that at least one of them will awaken your sensitivity and emotions. This would be for me the most wonderful present…
Valérie Legrand
