When Art Meets Design in Paris « Expat Arts magazine

When Art Meets Design in Paris

Posted in Europe, expat fine arts by Admin on January 17, 2008

Report: Expat Artists
Author: Tess Nurman, Regional Editor – France
Version en français

What happens when design and art mingle? A creation of work that is pertinent and modern.

For Didier Chipan (also known as Did), a French artist living and working in Paris, this creative mix is natural. Interested in art at a young age after being introduced to it by his best friend who wanted to become an artist, Didier worked in several design agencies where his true passion for art developed. Then, at around the age of 30, he decided to fulfill his dream as a full-time, independent artist specializing in design art.

Messagerie Artistique by Didier Chipan

At a time when innovation has become more precious than ever, Didier declares, “Today, there are no boundaries between art and design. Most international art fairs have understood this, and they are integrating more stands dedicated to design.”

Who are his favorite artists? Didier cites, “Marcel Duchamps, who revolutionized art with his ready-mades, which I claim my own works are the descendant of. I also appreciate Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst for their creativity and their visions for the art market. Concerning favorite designers, I would cite Verner Panton and Loewy, who have really contributed to the blossoming of design with their visionary creations.” Didier has even given homage in his works to artists whom he admires: Juan Miro, Jackson Pollock, Keith Haring and Jeff Koons.

For his artwork, Didier draws inspiration from the most trendy objects and topics, especially in design-oriented boutiques and also in magazines, music and films. He spends 80% of his time reflecting upon what he will create and 20% on actual creation.

Vive Eole by Didier Chipan

Frequently using black or white as neutral colors as well as a third color (mixed with a “secret element” in order to obtain the desired tint of material), his works are well thought-out and well-named, such as Vive Eole (“Living Zepyr,” communicating about the environment and accentuating the notion of wind as a natural element for the function of objects such as frisbees and kites), Art FM (alerting that artists and their public should be supported through more television and radio programs about art) or Pour Messagerie Artistique (”For Artistic Messaging,” showing that new technologies such as the Internet are completely shaking up the art market).

The subjects found in his creations are universal, all the more so that artists today are often mobile and not attached to a particular city. Among his travels, Didier has especially appreciated San Francisco. “Creation is everywhere in San Francisco. What has pleasantly surprised me the most was the presence of many street artists in the city, especially in The Castro and Ashbury which are just bursting with talent.”

ART_FM by Didier Chipan He found that in the United States, artists are being supported more by private organizations with financial means, as compared to France where artists mainly depend on the government’s allocated budget for culture. “Unfortunately the French government cannot take care of everything in the arts, and the private sector is still not ready to invest considerably in the promotion of art. This proves that French artists are facing many difficulties to develop their careers.”

In addition, with the internationalization of art, Didier expresses that the art situation in France is very troubling, especially in Paris where artists, galleries and collectors unanimously agree that the city no longer holds a dominant position in the art market and currently faces fierce competition from other big cities such as Didier Chipan New York or London. He adds, “The big challenge for Paris is thus to polish its ‘coat of arms’ through the will of government players to restore the French capital as a leader in art, a title that the city held in the 1950s with the School of Paris.”

However, the most essential improvement that he would make would be to offer more support to young artists in France, which greatly lacks at the moment.

Although these important issues are explored in his creations, the message that Didier would like to communicate through his artwork to the public is simple: “Enjoy!”

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