Interview: SAPO-Grég Jomain
Luca Curci talks with SAPO-Grég Jomain during FUTURE LANDSCAPES, third appointment of BORDERS ART FAIR 2021, at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello.

“I introduce myself, my name is Grégory Jomain a.k.a Sapo, born in 1975, and I am a self-taught French painter. Creating is vital for me. The art of life. As for back as I can remember, I have always had an attraction for art. Painting imposed itself on me by itself. A means of expression appealing to my senses and allowing me to express my emotions. All that surrounds me are as many sources of inspiration as the beating of a heart. Everything can inspire me, a person, a sentence, a word, an atmosphere… And when the spark of creation appears to me, my brushes move towards new artistic adventures. My painting today is very much inspired by nature and travel. I paint mainly in acrylic. I start my creations with an abstract background and then I put figurative elements that connect everything to create an artwork”.

Luca Curci – What’s your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
SAPO-Grég Jomain – Since my childhood, I draw and I really started painting after a very serious accident. I spent several years (five years) living between hospitals and functional rehabilitation centers. The words at that time were not strong enough to express my pain and it was quite natural that I turned to paint. Painting helped me in my healing process, gave me new meaning in my life and above all, it made me happy again. The experience that has influenced my work the most was in Latin America, Perù. In 2018, I went to Perù for one month with my backpack as my only baggage. I have traveled off the tourist trail. The goal was to meet the locals, to live and eat like them, to visit places without tourists or very few. I traveled in the same transport as the Peruvians, I slept at their homes or in small hotels located in small villages, I sailed on a transport boat among chickens and cows for 3 days and 3 nights on the Maranon River to the Amazon. I hiked through the primary forest and a little in the Amazon. I discovered and observed a very rich flora and fauna. It was a fantastic trip and it turned out to be very inspiring for my artistic work today.

LC – What are you currently working on? What is your preferred subject, if there is any?
S-GJ – My current work is still inspired by nature. I am always looking for new techniques, new color combinations, increasingly large formats. There are plenty of ideas about the flora and fauna of our beautiful planet.

LC – What is your creative process like?
S-GJ – I paint mainly in acrylic. I start my creations with an abstract background and then I put figurative elements that connect everything to create an artwork.

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the festival?
S-GJ – I totally agree with your view of art. Art is life. Art has the power to change the world. Art is a creator of emotions.

LC – Can you explain something about the artworks you have in our exhibition?
S-GJ – My paintings on display show the link between fauna, flora and our planet. We are all linked to our beautiful land. But let’s not forget that many land species are threatened because of our human activity. Let’s change and protect our house and these inhabitants, all these inhabitants!

LC – What is your idea about ITSLIQUID GROUP and our services? Would you suggest a collaboration with us?
S-GJ – Without a problem, I will propose a collaboration with you. The event is magnificent and the ITSLIQUID Group is at the top.