by Arnaud | May 12, 2016 | Uncategorized
“I spent my life writing as much as painting”says Jean Cortot. Friend of famous photographers Man Ray and Henri Cartier-Bresson but also Picasso, Jean invited me for lunch Rue du Bac at the Fontenoy cafe, and when he entered all the customers stopped talking and watched at this elegant old artist. Born in Alexandrie, Jean is a poet as much as a painter and succeeded in making the symbiose between writing and painting. Inspired by Jean Tardieu and Paul Morand, James Joyce but also Giacometti, Jean proposed to invite me in his appartement to see the painting from Matisse of his famous pianist and father Alfred Cortot. Guess what I responded?
by Arnaud | May 3, 2016 | Uncategorized
“I started painting when I was young, and at ten years old I got the second prize from the hands of Giovani Gronchi, the President of the Italian Republic, for a drawing contest celebrating the Italian reunification. My Dad wanted me to continue to study but at the age of 20 I got the chance to do a two month theatre performance show all over Mexico, as part of a theatre festival. We were performing an Antonin Arthaud play, not simple, and I met through that experience Arturo Schwarz, a poet who convinced me to continue painting….and I did never stop since then.”
Marco Del Re lives between his two studios in Paris and Saint Paul de Vence, and he was kind enough to welcome me in the intimacy of his very unique studio in the 14th district of Paris.. I was lucky to spend two full hours with Marco while he was painting that little art piece for his next series. I was amazed by this very elegant italian artist, as elegant to paint as if he was invited to the Presidency Palace…
by Arnaud | Apr 30, 2016 | People Pics
“I cannot stand the idea of being denied freedom; not being allowed to go where you want and obliged to live in a very small space with others you do not know is something I do not bear. No one should be reduced to its errors only, humans are not only THE errors they did once, they have the right to continue to move along in building their lives with confidence and trust from others.”
When I asked Matthieu why he decided one day to be a volunteer in visiting prisoners, he added that having a Dad part of the French penitentiary administration, had probably influenced him as well. Unlike the prisoners he visits for three hours each week, Matthieu considers himself as very lucky in life, and giving of his time to prisoners is a way for Mathieu de give back a bit of that luck.
” At the end of the day I believe that helping prisoners to leave their incarceration with more of humanity is a way for me to protect my family, my community and the society; these guys deserve to be listened by others than only policemen, lawyers or judges”.
I was amazed by the high generosity of Matthieu in a world where money and individualism is too often presented as the only way to happiness. I wish we were all “Matthieu’s.”
by Arnaud | Nov 8, 2015 | Uncategorized
“I have been traveling for the past 4 years, backpacking and I am coming to Burning Man as I was told it is an amazing place to see once in a lifetime. I plan to go to Panama in two months to take a boat to Australia, a 3 months trip; by then, I am planning to work in a Marijuana plant in California, harvesting is soon and this is very legal in CA.”
We met with Ben (the Land Surveyor or “Arpenteur” in Canadian French) as our neighbors were complaining about the bad smell coming from his tent ; Ben Ji and his very young girlfriend were starving, we invited them for lunch, they went back to have a nap on the floor near their car after Ben had peed on the door…
When I asked Ben if he had a dream, he started crying and responded “My dream is to be happy for the rest of my life, if all goes well”
by Arnaud | Jun 6, 2015 | French in the USA, People Pics
Why did you come to the US?
I would say that I did not come to the US but to San Francisco. I discovered SF when I used to work for a Californian company based in Paris. With my wife we were looking for some fresh air, not projecting our entire life in Paris. As soon as I got a job opportunity here, it became an evidence to move in with my family.
What do you like about the US?
Americans think big and positive. I’m always amazed by the smile and the positive attitude of the clerks at the supermarket! Although their job might be boring, they take the time to speak with you, to pack your stuffs and to wish you a great day. On the tech and entrepreneur side, everyone thinks big and networks are wide open.
What do you like about SF ?
SF is an amazing city. First, I like the light, from the cloudy and foggy white to the sunny and blue sky bright one. Of course, I like the views from everywhere, but also the different districts, the nice buildings, the beach and the fantastic Golden Gate Park.
Do you have a passion?
I like “fooding”. I’m always happy to share a good bottle of wine with friends, or a good tasty and refined dish at a nice place. My favorite places are some bistrot restaurants in Paris where the Chef prepares perfectly executed fresh food with only 4 or 5 ingredients. But the top of the top remains Michel Bras at Laguiole.
Do you have a dream?
A business that would mix fooding and digital.
Remi is indeed an excellent cook and a fun model to shoot, Just like the clerks at the supermarket, he takes the time to make sure that his friends have a good time while enjoying his cooking specialties from all over the world..
