Born in Loubignac, Corrèze, France, in 1950. Parents are farmers.
As a student moved to Paris, where he studied aesthetics and philosophy , at Paris-Nanterre University, and earned a phd degree. Traveled to Africa (1974/76) and Mexico (1978/82). Back to France, 1991~2005, at Louvre Museum, he had a workshop and lectures, first about frames (XIIIe ~XVe century), and after, writings in the Museum collections (Hieroglyphs, cuneiforms...), and lately for ceramics (red and black in ancient Greece, overglaze in Italian majolica and French porcelains)`
Meanwhile he began his career as a painter and continued to exhibit his work From 1999 to 2017 he held solo exhibitions in Japan and France every year .During this time he deepened his friendship with Raku Kichizaemon XV and Toda Hiroshi XII.
My Mentor in Mexico: Shozo Tanida
I discovered a passion for ceramics in 1989 under the guidance of Shôzô Tanida, a Japanese potter in San Miguel de Allende, in Mexico.
Shôzo Tanida didn’t consider himself an artist and was really modest. He used to live in some cabins behind Kawanishi highway. But he kindly understood at once that I had more ambition; as soon as I had an idea, he would search for ways to help me.
He always used white Shigaraki clay, but when I tried the red one, I was really pleased with the result in wood Kiln anagama. "So, you will try too?" I asked. He just laughed. He enjoyed having fun and would party with his students. He was born during the war and had seen bombing in Osaka – he didn’t want to expose himself to more suffering, I think. I strove to look beyond my work and he was proud when I could do so.
At that time I discovered a world. A world centered on clay. In Europe, it appeared to me that we had always hidden clay (with white slip, for example, in the case of majolica). Clay means Earth, it means Nature. Until then I had tried to developpe painting wihout frame, but I was not satisfied.
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