Robin Leforestier
Rob Leforestier, a painter who roams landscapes, opens the door to his traveling world. Aboard a train heading to Arles, his adopted home, he speaks of his singular artistic process: capturing the spirit of a place by painting in real time, immersed in the everyday life of his hosts.
Hi Robin, how are you today?
Hi Isabelle, there is a lot going on right now. I’m happy to go back home.
What were you doing before answering to our questions?
I was in Brussels yesterday and after a quick stop in Tourcoing and Lille to see the exhibitions about the 150th birthday of Impressionism I came back to Paris to see my great aunt and uncle from the States. Right now, I’m in the train to Arles where I live.
Could you tell us about yourself?
Of course, I am a nomad landscape painter. I go from house to house to paint the portrait of my hosts by representing their views. I collect views.
How and why did you start painting?
I started because I didn’t really have a proper home when I was a student, I was sleeping here and there and I needed to fix an exchange with the people and the atmospheres I was going through.
Could you tell us about the process?
I arrive at the place, someone’s house, a restaurant or an hotel and I paint the view with my easel for 4 to 5 hours in front and with the people that live in it. It’s a kind of performance.
How do you pick up the places you paint?
Within the place, I always choose where the people are spending time the most because it’s usually the most pleasant part of the place and like that, we stay together during the process.
Would you say you embellish the views you paint? Or do you have a photographic way of painting, sticking to the reality?
Embellish haha, no, I come from photography so I frame and stand like a chamber photographer. After all, I learn how to paint a little more everyday, my figuration is not about embellishment it’s more about a realistic statement within the limit of what effects I manage to achieve.
How long do you spend on one painting?
The time it needs to be good. It depends if I have to chat at the same time…
Do you find outdoor landscapes more inspiring than indoor views? Why?
Yes of course ! The outside is all about sharing with everyone. The inside is full of possession and already too organise.
What would you say paintings have photographs don’t?
The time it takes to make them.
Do you sometimes also draw/paint humans?
No, I don’t want to put bodies in my representations, it’s already overly existing in life.
You exclusively paint outside, is that right? How would you describe your relationship to Nature?
Yes, outside or trough the windows. Never in my studio. My relation with nature is about going through a lot of different environments, with the local species, way of living, and relationships between spaces.
Which painting is your favorite so far and why?
My favorite painting ? I don’t really have one. But I just came back from the fine art museum of Ghent. I saw some paintings of parties landscapes from Bruegel, or Bosch, le portement de croix, around 1510 with big terrifying faces, sublime. Or still lives painting with fish and meat served on metal dishes from the 17th century. There also was Magritte, Perspective II, le balcon by Manet (1950). In this painting he took the composition from Manet, Le balcon (1868) and replaced people by coffins. Well done. But I stayed a few minutes mute in front of a big painting by Emile Claus. Juste a light effet on a tree in a forest. I vibe with that.
What’s inspiring you right now?
The old ways of doing, traditions and local coutumes.
And who are the artists that inspire you the most?
Mmmm, it’s not easy to put myself in a filiation. The people I meet inspire me in my life. For the professional artists, I look at the people I know close or far. Aline Bouvy in Brussels who make a sculptural work that I very like. Willie Morlon who makes marqueterie with placo-platre, a young artist who is going to make an installation for the design parade in Hyeres this summer. For the older ones, Robert filliou, Francois Curlet , Jean Phillipe Delhomme, Rosa Bohneur, Claude Monet, Gustave Courbet, Valentine Schlegel, Léo Lelé, Frédérique Mistral. And of course Léna Théodore with who I live and dream, her work is all about traditional textile techniques and contemporary life.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
I already live everywhere, but most of the time in Arles.
Anything you’d like to add?
I’ll go eat a lunch. See you. Bravo for your magazine. It’s nice to see something simple and good. Thank you for the interview.
Paintings by Robin Leforestier