Interview: François Grimoin
Luca Curci talks with François Grimoin during FUTURE LANDSCAPES, third appointment of BORDERS Art Fair 2020, at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello and The ROOM Contemporary Art Space.

Born in 1981 and passionate about photography, I decided to study digital photography only recently. After taking a Master’s Degree in Finance followed by 10 years working with various companies, I took a risk to leave the path behind to follow my passion. In 2020, I graduated with “great honors” from the Cours des Métiers d’Arts du Hainaut Photography School. I have a particular interest in urban landscapes, derelict structures and the surreal.

Luca Curci- What are you currently working on?
François Grimoin – I’m currently working on the second opus of my film, made by photos. It will also be a mix of my “urbex” reports for the set, in which I introduce elements shooted in the studio. I also try to include real filmed sequences as well as “movie stars”.

LC – What is art for you?
FG – Good question, I would say that art is what shines the most because there is no absolute truth about its beauty or its success. It’s this subjectivity that fascinates me because it can offer and receive, thanks to creativity and sensitivity.

LC – What is your creative process like?
FG – Gainsbourg said while writing this music “I thought the word”: he writes a few words and composes a piece of music around it. It’s somewhere similar to this work done during confinement. Indeed, for my part, I have photos that I try to integrate into a scenario and place models shotted in the studio. It’s obviously easier to do the reverse to have a scenario and take the photos accordingly…But since we were forced into isolation, it was impossible to travel and meet people. So I did with what I had on hand.

LC – What is the most challenging part about creating your artworks?
FG – Mixing at the same time a story that makes sense while keeping in mind that you have to take photos that I like visually. My urbex expeditions are exciting both in the places to manage to locate, penetrate inside, and realizing THE picture which will be beautiful and usable. The shoots with the models in my studio allow me to meet personalities that are at least exquisite in most of the cases because the “visual proximity” allows me to be intimate with the model.

LC – Which art themes do you pursue? What is your preferred subject, if there is any?
FG – I like what is not current, the offbeat subjects, the urbex and the pretty curves (human and material). If in addition all of this has a meaning on existence, then yes it attracts me frankly. I like just black and white photos and just as much as a photoshop composition…the banal on the other hand tires me.

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the festival?
FG – I am completely in line with your vision that allows promoting different visions of artists around the world, which clearly enriches the content of the exhibition. It’s an actual theme, and I like “border and line” visions.

LC – We were attracted by your last artistic production, has the artwork presented been created for the festival or as a part of preexisting works?
FG – The creation was made for the “end-year-work” diploma. It was created from February to June.

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event?
FG – You exhibit in prestigious places and you showed professionalism through the contact and the marketing.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
FG – Yes with pleasure. I’m also selected for Mixing identities from February to March in London.

LC – What are your suggestions about our services? Is there something more we can provide to artists?
FG – …actually I see nothing more!