“I aim to paint the invisible, not the ‘beautiful,’ allowing viewers to reconnect with their own reminiscences, stories, and emotional scars.”
A Timeless Artist: Serge Teneze’s Journey Through Tradition and Innovation
Serge Teneze stands as a testament to the enduring power of classical artistry intertwined with modern relevance. A French artist celebrated for his exceptional command of traditional oil painting techniques, Serge Teneze’s career exemplifies a commitment to the preservation of time-honored artistic methods. His work transcends eras, merging the precision of classical painting with the boldness of contemporary abstraction.
With a career spanning decades, Serge Teneze has gained international acclaim, exhibiting his works across Europe and the United States. Prestigious solo shows at venues like Galerie V12 in Angers, France, and Espaces Art Gallery in Brussels highlight his influence, while his participation in renowned group exhibitions such as the Salon d’Automne and the Biennale des Arts in Gironde underscores his role in shaping modern figurative art movements. Accolades like the Gold Medal from the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris and the Trophée de la Création Boesner affirm his artistic vision and technical expertise, cementing his status in the art world.
Beyond the canvas, Serge Teneze dedicates himself to education and preservation. The works he writes, including a book on ancient oil painting techniques, provide invaluable resources for emerging and seasoned artists alike. Additionally, his foray into children’s literature, in progress with works like The Beautiful Story of the Nuage Family – Discovering Colors, introduces young minds to the wonder of creativity. Through these diverse contributions, Serge Teneze fosters a dialogue that bridges history and innovation, inviting audiences to engage with art on both personal and cultural levels.
Serge Teneze: From Figuration to Abstraction, Painting the Invisible
Serge Teneze’s artistic evolution reflects his deep exploration of memory, a central theme permeating his work. Initially rooted in figurative art, he gradually transitioned to abstraction, seeking to capture the intangible essence of personal and collective experiences. His paintings aim to transcend aesthetics, offering viewers a profound emotional and intellectual engagement.
Notable series such as Résonance, which examines the memory of places, and Le “Moi-Peau”, exploring the scars left on us by the events of our lives, illustrate Serge Teneze’s ability to transform abstract concepts into evocative visual forms. His series LUMIÈRES NOIRES delves into personal memories, stripping away embellishments to focus on raw, intimate sensations. Through the interplay of black and light, he uncovers a stark yet hauntingly beautiful narrative of loss, nostalgia, and introspection.
Serge Teneze’s technique mirrors his thematic focus on memory. In his ABSTRACT series, layers of paint are alternately applied and removed, symbolizing the excavation of forgotten pasts and the erasure of recollections over time. This method—akin to archaeological discovery—reveals hidden depths while simultaneously conveying the fleeting, often elusive nature of memory. By rejecting ornamental beauty in favor of emotional authenticity, Serge Teneze invites viewers to navigate their own inner landscapes, connecting deeply with the art.
A Space of Reflection: The Studio as a Haven
Housed in a renovated 15th-century chapel, Serge Teneze’s studio reflects his reverence for history and focus on precision. The serene environment fosters creativity and contemplation, allowing him to engage fully with his craft. Organized with the meticulousness of an alchemist, his studio is a space where pigments, oils, and waxes are prepared to ensure the durability and intensity of his works.
This space is more than a workshop; it is a sanctuary where Serge Teneze develops the timeless techniques passed down by the masters. His artistic process involves replicating methods learned from figures like Claude Yvel and Jean-Pierre Brazs, who introduced him to ancient oil painting practices. These techniques, such as preparing linen canvases with rabbit-skin glue and crafting custom black oils, imbue his work with both stability and an unparalleled depth of color.
Music often accompanies Serge Teneze’s creative sessions, adding another layer of introspection to his process. The chapel’s history, combined with his carefully curated tools and materials, transforms the space into a place of profound artistic engagement. It is here that Serge Teneze breathes life into his ambitious projects, such as L’Ange Noir, a piece whose mysterious energy has touched lives far beyond its aesthetic impact.
Serge Teneze: Ambitious Projects and the Future of Memory
Serge Teneze’s artistry is not confined to what he has already achieved; his vision for the future is equally compelling. One of his dream projects, Mémoire Celte, Les 7 Croix (Celtic Memory, The Seven Crosses), aims to merge figurative and abstract elements to explore collective memory on a grand scale. Utilizing the world’s blackest pigment, which absorbs 99% of light, this series would juxtapose Christianized standing stones with Celtic symbols, symbolizing the erosion of ancestral memories much like Alzheimer’s erases personal ones.
His aspiration to showcase this work in Japan, a country known for its deep cultural and artistic heritage, underscores his global outlook. Serge Teneze’s desire to create a large triptych from the LUMIÈRES NOIRES series and place it in a public space reflects his belief in art’s ability to resonate universally, bridging individual experiences and collective understanding.
Whether through groundbreaking projects or his continued experimentation with materials and techniques, Serge Teneze’s vision remains steadfast. By delving into the depths of memory, emotion, and history, he continues to push the boundaries of artistic expression, ensuring that his work leaves a lasting imprint on both contemporary art and the human experience.
