In a few words, who are you?
I was born in Brussels and started my childhood in the Marolles.
I entered the world of painting at an early age thanks to my mother who was herself a painter and poet.
Then I entered the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in the class of Marianne Dock.
One day, invited to an opera and dance performance - "Cinderella" - at the Théâtre Royale de la Monnaie, I fell in love at first sight.
I found myself propelled to "Mudra", Maurice Béjart's school, where I collaborated as a set designer with artistic director Micha Van Hoecke and choreographer of the ballet "l'Ensemble", a company composed of former Mudra students.
This allowed me to rub shoulders with the great artists and masters of our time and to discover a three-dimensional world.
Dance, painting and music became one.
If you were an animal, which one would you be?
If I were an animal I would probably be a dolphin.
What makes your art unique
My colors.
I use an "Al Fresco" technique with pigments, the same ones used in traditional painting in Japan.
I work with very little light, which allows me to create exceptional colours that dominate the canvas.
Each movement is accompanied by music, which takes me away in the way I put my brush on the canvas.
My brush begins to dance and vibrate like in a ballet choreography. My inspirations come straight from nature and are reproduced in my paintings in the form of movements, sounds and colours.
Often children ask me if there are lights or lamps in the paintings.
In Japan, they call me the colour magician.
If you were a colour, which one would you be?
I would be the blue colour.
How did you come to Japan ?
In 1983, I left for a few months with a Japanese dancer from the Ensemble company, without knowing exactly where I was going or what I was going to discover.
What attracted you to stay there?
Right away, I was amazed and interested in this world so much more than I had expected. Strangely different from mine. I was like the other side of the mirror. Unconstrained and from afar, I could observe my country and
my culture in a different light. Then I met my Japanese wife who is a lyric artist.
What is your daily life as an artist there?
I spend most of my time painting in my studio in Tokyo where we receive many visitors.
I set up exhibitions and participate in different events.
I love to go and recharge my batteries in ryokans, (traditional hotels) in the middle of nature and enjoy their "onsen" (hot springs).
What is a Belgian artist for you?
Belgium is a mixture of culture. The country hasn't existed for very long. This gives more freedom of expression.
Does it have any particularities ?
Belgium is often referred to as a small country.
When a little Belgian boy is far from home, he often manages to do great things.
Artists are also excellent ambassadors.
What does surrealism mean to you?
Surrealism is Belgium in all its splendour.
Still no government.
The number of governments and ministers.
The separation of the regions.
Impossible to exhibit if you're not from the city in certain museums.
Having a monumental "manneken-pis" sculpture removed from the airport, despite its great success and the advertisement in a Japanese tourist guide.
In the meantime, I am represented by a museum in Shanghai which proposes to install one of my sculptures at the Shanghai airport in the near future.
How are Belgian artists considered in Japan?
People don't really know Belgium and don't know where the country is. When you talk about Belgium, they mostly talk about chocolate and beers, which are always a huge success.
On an artistic level, our fashion designers are very famous.
Some painters like Magritte, Rubens are also famous.
Our "Manneken-pis" is very well known but is often considered as "made in Japan".
Surrealism has a very strong image.
What are you missing in Belgium?
When I'm in Belgium, I spend as much time as possible with my family and friends. I love to walk through our flat country landscapes.
I especially enjoy our good food and the friendly atmosphere.
