Beyond the canvas: when encounters make my paintings speak
A painting is never really finished until it has met someone’s gaze. A few conversations, caught around my paintings.
My name is Le Yack, and I am a painter in Orléans. Studio work is solitary, but I cannot imagine my life as an artist without human contact. It is in these exchanges, at an opening, an art fair or a simple studio visit, that my paintings come to life. I love the moments when people question me, interpret, and look for what lies behind my scenes.
The story of a gaze and a parrot
It was at a contemporary art fair. An elegant lady stopped for a long time in front of this portrait of a young man with a parrot.
“He has such a particular air, this young man. A mixture of pride and melancholy. And that parrot on his shoulder… it looks as if it knows something we don’t.”
That is exactly what I wanted to capture: a direct, slightly defiant gaze. The parrot is his confidant. I like the idea of a silent conversation between them. The pink brings softness and intimacy against the bright green of the jacket: a nod to classical portraits, with a more pop touch.
Solitude in the city
A young couple stopped in front of one of my city nights, with its lit windows.
“It’s amazing how silent this image is. You can see people, but each of them seems to be in their own world.”
Urban solitude is a theme that moves me deeply. We all live together, stacked on top of one another, and yet we do not know each other. The warm light of the windows draws you in while the night keeps its distance: we are both close to and far from other people.
A moment of reflection
I remember a young woman who stood for a long time in front of a blonde woman in a red dress, lost in thought, in a public place.
“She looks so sad. Or rather… lost in her thoughts.”
I wanted to capture a moment of introspection: you are in a public place, a train or a café, and alone with yourself. Red is a very strong colour; here it stands out against the dark blue mood and keeps the figure present despite her melancholy. I love those suspended moments when time seems to stop.
These encounters feed me and make me want to keep telling stories. If you are passing through Orléans, or if you come across me at an art fair, come and talk to me: I will always be glad to discuss my work with you.
Le Yack
