Jean Michel Stanislas Garczynski, French contemporary expressionist artist and luxury designer(Photo/NBD)

Nov. 13 (NBD) -- The 4th Chengdu Creativity and Design Week was held on 10-13th November in Chengdu, southwest city in China. With a theme of "Creativity Extends Tianfu Culture", it brings together 700 design companies from over 20 countries.

Jean Michel Stanislas Garczynski, French contemporary expressionist artist and luxury designer, accepted NBD's interview. Michel has been in China for 10 years and has a workshop in Guangzhou. This is his third visit to Chengdu. He told NBD that Chengdu is a city that values creativity and art and it must be a good place to stay where culture and art flourish.

NBD: Which Chinese artist do you like most? Is there anything in common between Chinese art and Western art?

Jean Michel: In terms of Chinese artists, I like Zao Wou-ki (Zhao Wuji) and Zhang Daqian (Chang Dai-chien) most. Zhao Wuji is a Chinese-French painter who developed a distinctive abstract style blending the visual poetry of Chinese painting and calligraphy with European pictorial traditions and his works have greatly inspired me. Before I came to China, I have learned that Chinese painting is abstract and full of fluidity, which has shared traits of western abstract painting. After years of communication with Chinese artists, I come to know more about the spirits and philosophies it try to convey. Plain drawing (Liu bai), for example, is the one of the most intriguing Chinese techniques in Chinese traditional painting. For western painters, they will instinctively fill in the blanks. However, I come to know its significance to the beauty of a painting as a whole till I set foot on this very soil.

NBD: European countries bear rich museum culture and museums are preferred destinations for foreign visitors. How do you think of museum economy?

Jean Michel: Museums in France are mostly supported by French government. But in China, some of the museums are private ones. With dedications and financial investments, most of them are running quite well. In contrast, private museums are rarely seen in France. China has done a great job in this regard.

If a museum only focuses on history and solely displays the past culture, it would be hard for it to keep its vitality. Conversely, if a museum is open to various art forms outside, it will remain active all the time.  

NBD: Chanel reprised its Cruise 2018 fashion show in Chengdu last week. You've been to Chengdu many times and have experience in luxury designing. So how do you think of Chengdu in creative city branding?

Jean Michel: Chanel fashion show represented a very good way of city branding. Chanel is a world-famous brand, and its fashion show in Chengdu will help the brand to interact with the city. While in turn, it also helps Chengdu to lift its international influence.

NBD: Since you have mentioned the combination of art and design, can you give more detailed explanation with the example of Chengdu?

Jean Michel: My first impression of Chengdu is "spicy", but I like spicy food. I think art and design must be combined because art isn't just something staying on the walls or galleries for people to enjoy. Instead, modern art should be more dynamic, emerging itself into our daily life. Picasso, for example, knows to apply art on the things that he draws in his day.

Email: tanyuhan@nbd.com.cn