Painting as an echo to nature
Painting dominates the Seychelles' artistic landscape, no doubt because it allows us to deploy a vibrant palette that reflects tropical abundance. The figurative, naïve style is favored by island artists, who convey the Creole joie de vivre. Most artists exhibit their work in their own personal galleries, often integrated into their huts and studios. These independent galleries, a veritable plunge into the heart of each creative universe, are concentrated mainly on the three main islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. We offer a panorama of the Seychelles art scene through a selection of exceptional personalities.
Michael Adams, the international
British artist Michael Adams settled in the Seychelles in 1972. He lives, creates and exhibits with his family at his home in Anse aux Poules Bleues, in the southwest of the island. His naive impressionist style captures the spirit of the archipelago and its people like no other. His work has earned him a worldwide reputation. Nevertheless, Michael Adams is always available to discuss his work with visitors. He shares his gallery with his two children, Tristan and Alyssa, who work on common themes: lush vegetation populated by giant bamboos and majestic trees, colors drawn from the environment, the gaiety of the markets. To fuel inspiration, the family maintains a botanical garden at the back of the house, home to a host of animals, including a fish tank.
In the Seychelles, the art of Michael Adams can be found everywhere, from the living rooms of private homes to hotels and restaurants. When Her Majesty the Queen of England made him a Member of the British Empire in 2001, the entire artistic heritage of the Seychelles felt honoured!
George Camille, the art of the Indian Ocean
The artist proclaims loud and clear that his inspiration comes from the waves. "As I live next to the sea, its sounds, smells and beauty are always present in my work." His paradisiacal tones permeate his paintings and prints. He exhibits in his three galleries across the Seychelles: the George Camille Gallery, near the center of Victoria, a studio gallery in La Digue, his native island, and his studio on Le Rocher.
George Camille's preferred means of artistic expression remains engraving, although he also dabbles in painting and drawing.
Through his work, which has been exhibited worldwide and at the last two Venice Biennales, Camille strives to capture the energy and soul of the Creole people.
Donald Adelaide, in the heart of nature
Between mango and coconut trees, it's in his modest studio in Baie Lazare that the smiling Donald Adelaide puts his colorful universe on canvas, under the sign of the generous nature that saw him grow up and the granite rocks so symbolic of his islands. To compose his paintings, the artist likes to immerse himself in landscapes and draw from nature. Her sketches are then colored in her studio. Her work is equally appreciated abroad, in Germany and Greece.
Gérard Devoud, the watercolorist
International artist Gérard Devoud humbly welcomes visitors to his gallery in Baie Lazare, Mahé. Born in the Seychelles to a French father and Seychellois mother, Gérard Devoud is proud of his origins, which go hand in hand with a dual sensibility.
With a resolutely modern and colorful naive style, he draws his inspiration from the rainforest and geological relief of the Baie Lazare region. His panoramas of the Vallée de Mai and Anse Soleil beach are admired in Europe and the United States alike. Devoud also devotes himself to portraits of locals, featuring fishermen and neighbors. He depicts Seychelles life in an overflow of vibrant colors. Although he makes no secret of his preference for watercolors, Devoud also offers numbered lithographs.
The sculptor Antonio Filippin
Established in the Seychelles since 1992, this Italian-born artist has no shortage of originality. He primarily sculpts wood, but is also involved in a wide range of projects. His restaurant is housed in an art gallery, itself located in his house in the heart of a mineral forest. The almost childlike simplicity of this setting combines stone with all the tree species within his reach: coconut, breadfruit, tamarind, cinnamon and many others.
His works, focused on the human figure, feature a wide variety of female posteriors carved in wood. Even that of his wife Maria, "to admire her when she's not here! His house-museum reflects his surprising personality. Nestled between the immense granite blocks that were there when he arrived, it is designed with the greatest respect for nature. Art extends to the interior of the house: an indoor swimming pool wedged between two enormous stones, a bed carved into the rock face. Antonio takes on official monumental commissions, notably for the airport, where his art adorns the VIP lounges.
Léon Radegonde, collage and sculpture
Born in 1950, Léon Radegonde trained in Canada and France before returning to the Seychelles to pursue his career. His work combines found objects to reconstruct a mysterious past. He uses the collage technique to compose faces, a recurring theme in his creative process. His work of reconstitution, rooted in the history of the islands, makes Radegonde a major figure in the archipelago. He is also one of the few local artists not to have his own gallery. However, his work can be seen at the Passerose gallery in Praslin, in hotel rooms across the archipelago and at community events.
The multitude of art galleries on the islands testifies to the diversity of talent. Stop off at one of these enchanting studios during your excursions.
