Interview: Fernand Thienpondt
Luca Curci talks with Fernand Thienpondt during FUTURE LANDSCAPES, 3rd Appointment of BORDERS ART FAIR 2021, at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space.

He has studied Interior-architecture. During his professional career, he attends lectures at the Academic of Arts in Bruges. 2000 was the start – or better the ‘acceleration’- of his passion for watercolor painting. Convinced that a good basic knowledge – of matters such as perspective, color mixing, shade, etc. – forms the basis of successful artwork, he set up the Flemish School of Watercolour Painting and Design. He is an author and editor of a series of didactic books on watercolor painting, and he has already 8 books published. In 2017 he becomes the country head of IWS Belgium. He regards watercolor painting (or any other art form) as a more intense way of living, a way of living that allows us to better “sense” and “feel” the things that surround us in our everyday lives. This idea finds its best expression in his observation of nature, especially the sea. In addition, people also stand central in his work, albeit often interwoven with their own natural environment. Or the feeling of being “alone in the world”. This is the start of the “Imagination of the Undiscovered“. He tries to include a wide range of interesting features in all his paintings, using light, diversity of colors, atmosphere, and movement as his key elements.

Luca Curci – What’s your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
Fernand Thienpondt – My background is interior-architect. I was very influenced by my observations of the sea during my youth. Looking in silence at the sea gives me a kind of meditation, so it was the start of dreaming about everything. The beauty of nature but also the unanswered problems of the mind of the human being.

LC – Which subject are you working on?
FT – At the start, I would taste every subject. If not I feel too much limited, but at least I try to give my paint the unexpected.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
FT – In nature, and looking (observing) the people in their normal doing and what they create.

LC – Did your style change over the years? In which way?
FT – Of course, because we are all making an evolution: The art is “a never-ending story”.

LC – Can you explain something about the artworks you have in our exhibition?
FT – Yes of course. The first painting ‘RIMPLING EARTH’ gives us an idea about what’s become about our world. The second painting ‘HIGH IN THE MOUNTAINS’ conveys the feeling of the possibility of finding something unknown.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
FT – Yes, Because I am not at all an “IT person”; I’m looking for someone who does the necessary movements to make connections worldwide.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
FT – Yes I did, thank you.