Mr Jean Luc lafitte
ARTIST STATEMENT
Jean Luc Lafitte received no formal artistic training, yet he was raised within a family of artists and holds the conviction that while certain gifts are innate, others must be cultivated through discipline and guidance. His creative vision is shaped by a diverse array of influences: the formative years of his childhood spent in Africa, a profound affinity for the sea and the natural environment, and an enduring engagement with science fiction.
He seeks to create works that elicit genuine emotional response. In his view, no artist should aspire merely to have their work described as “nice”; rather, he prefers that audiences either love or strongly reject what they encounter. For Lafitte, art ought to intertwine satire with contemporary social concerns, compelling the viewer to question and reflect.
At the age of twelve, Lafitte was first exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London following his success in a national competition. His sole formal instruction came from an art teacher who recognised his talent at an early age and consistently encouraged him to extend the boundaries of his practice. Unbeknownst to the young artist, this same teacher submitted one of his paintings to the competition. To his astonishment, the work was selected and subsequently displayed in the renowned National Portrait Gallery.
Social Networks :
Instagram handle: @lafootart
Portfolio: https://lafootart.com/gallery
Mr Jean Luc lafitte
1. Inspiration & Style
What initially inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your unique artistic style?
I was inspired by my father, and yet I can’t remember a time when I did not paint. My father was an amazing artist, but he also worked for the secret service, so his potential was never fully realized. In truth I do not have a certain style, as I am consistently exploring whatever I feel drawn to. I think if you confine yourself to one style there is potential to become stuck.
2. Creative Process
Do you have any rituals or routines that help you get into a creative mindset when starting a new project?
My creative process works better with coffee and music, painting for me is like meditation. I can forget to eat, and I just lose myself in the canvas. I do better when I am not disturbed.
3. Artistic Influences
How do you balance historical or artistic influences with your personal style, and how do these influences manifest in your work today?
I don’t look at artistic influences, I just try to be me. I do not think because I am an artist, that this is any more important than my job in health care or that of a plumber. Art is always a blend of pushing the boundaries, creating reaction and if this means you blend the style of the great and no so great artist like myself, then that’s okay
4. Emotion & Expression
How do you use your art to evoke emotions, and what role does emotion play in your creative process?
This is a great question, as I want people to say I hate your art or I love your art, what I don’t want them to say is that my art is “nice” Art and emotion are interlinked, they are like the gut and the brain. Art should make you think and feel.
5. Standout Projects
Can you share a project that stands out to you and describe the creative process behind it?
My latest project that explores transhumanism is one I am really immersed in, because as we enter the age of A.I we as humans fear change, and I believe that the inability to accept change is the cause of all unhappiness. It’s natural to fear the new, and so I ask my audience to embrace this change and ask what does it mean to be human, can machines and A.I be sentient.
6. Feedback & Growth
How do you incorporate feedback from critics or audiences into your work, and how do you balance this with your own artistic intuition?
If you never accept that your work will be criticized then you have to be a narcissist. I am not here to paint to please anyone, I paint because it is my form of meditation. If people like my work, great, but if they don’t that’s okay as well.
7. Motivation & Inspiration
How do you stay motivated and inspired, even when facing creative blocks or challenges?
I only paint when I feel motivated, and this is not all the time. It’s important to step back from your art and immerse yourself in nature and life, in doing so you return fresh and inspired to paint based on what you have experienced and seen.
8. Exhibiting Work
How do you feel about exhibiting your artwork with The Holy Art Gallery, and what does this opportunity mean to you?
Exhibiting with the Holy Art Gallery is important for two reasons. First, all artists want feedback on their work, and second, immersing yourself with other artists and their work is like being part of a community. We artists can be a moody bunch, so we need to be brought down to earth now and then.
9. Future Goals
What are your long-term goals and aspirations as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?
My future goals in art are to continue to be inspired, to never become known for one style, and above all to never take myself or life too seriously as it’s a temporary situation. If my art inspires conversation and emotion then I have achieved my goal.
10. Audience Connection
What do you hope viewers take away from experiencing your art, and how do you aim to connect with them on an emotional or intellectual level?
I want viewers after seeing my art to question, what is life, what are machines, and most of all what is being human defined as.
