Chris-Ailm BeraetVence, Alpes-Maritimes - France
born in Nice 1968
Registration Maison des Artistes - Paris
n° BA44202
Adagp n° 1089190
...[... my subject is writing (the act of writing), the line, the poetic abstraction of the sign, the trace, the gesture, the imprint of contact from which a whole microcosm emerges. It seems to me that this has always been the case, even in my series of paintings called ‘rust’. I combine the handwriting of my poetic texts with occasional automatic writing. But the primary intention is to trace, a gestural, living need. When a “figure” appears, it is not the reproduction of a motif, a memory, a photo, or an existing drawing; it simply invites itself in. Spontaneous expression offers me endless possibilities for interpretation, even more so after a phase of erasure to bypass the conscious control of language and let instinct guide the line. This allows me to explore a subject/image/figure more freely and spontaneously ...]...
A full-time artist for over 20 years, Chris-Ailm teaches drawing, painting, engraving and calligraphy in Vence. He has participated in over a hundred exhibitions in France and abroad.
2025_______sur-peinture / over-painting (graphic painting)
2024_______“adamah” (8th evolution/writing and body imprint)
2023_______“moi-peau” (7th evolution/writing and body imprint)
2022_______“dentelles de t'air” (aerial sculpture)
2021_______“moi-peau” (6th evolution/body imprint)
2020_______“corpscriptures” (5th evolution/body imprint)
2016/17___“alchemical_weddings” (4th evolution/hybrid imprint)
2016_______five pieces “corps-lit-porte” (body-bed-door) included in the Cérès Franco Collection - Paris-Montolieu
2013/17___ several stays in Potsdam and Berlin
2015_______meeting with Cérès Franco in Paris
2012_______co-creator of the poetry circle: Les Rencontres de Poètes & C° - Nice
2015_______“free_weddings” (3rd evolution/hybrid imprint)
2012_______“on the white reverse side of emptiness” (collection of writing and free poetry)
2011_______“poèmes sans chemin” (collection of writing and free verse poetry)
2010_______“propos émanés d'un chemin encré” (collection of writing and ink painting)
2008_______“moi peau noire” (2nd evolution/body imprint)
2005_______“corps-lit-porte” (1st evolution/body imprint)
2005_______writing of the first “orbigram” (poetic circle)
2004_______introduction to Tibetan writing
2003_______“feux follets” (pictogram notebook)
2002_______“night-time traces/ les nuits tao” (glyph)
1998_______period of ink and watercolor drawing and writing
1997_______he discovers Native American and Inuit art during a stay in Quebec, Canada
1996_______Introduction to the art of Chinese calligraphy
1995/97____Readings such as: Tao Te Ching, Treatise on Perfect Emptiness, Chuang Tzu, Tea and Tao by John Blofeld, inspire him to follow the path of art and traditional Chinese philosophy
1994/95____During a stay in Gabon, he developed a passion for African art, particularly masks and ethnic dialogues
1980/82____Family introduction to medieval European calligraphy: Roman uncial, Merovingian, and Irish semi-uncial
1973/74____Learned to write with ink and pen (elementary school).
1968_______Born in Nice.
PUBLIC COLLECTION
La Coopérative - Musée Cérès Franco, Montolieu, France
PRIVATE COLLECTION
Keith Overton Collection, London, Great Britain
Michaël K. Berlin Collection, Germany
AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
2020_Jean-Vincent Darasse Prize - Taylor Foundation, Paris
2020_ADAGP Prize - Salon du Dessin et de la Peinture à l'Eau, Paris
2018_Nicolas Cizeron Prize, Société des Artistes-Français, Grand Palais, Paris
2015_Bronze Medal, Société des Artistes Français, Grand Palais, Paris
2015_Aiap-Unesco-Monaco Jury Prize
2015_Monaco National Commission Prize, Monaco