Afrik'Art presents:
| Serge Hidalgo Pluridisciplinary Artist: Painter, Photographer, Sculptor |
| For more information on Serge Hidalgo: please click on the picture below |
Crédit Photos: Serge Hidalgo
| Miles Davis |
| Paintings from slavery-themed series "La Vente" [The Sale] |
| Regard de Nuit 3 A photograph by S. Hidalgo |
| Metis 1 A pendant sculpted by S. Hidalgo |
| Relief d'Afrik A sculpture by S. Hidalgo |
| Metis 6 A pendant sculpted by S. Hidalgo |
| Relief d'Afrik |
| Marvin Gaye |
| Serge Hidalgo |
| African Soul from Guadeloupe |
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| Muhammad Ali |
| African Consciousness® |
| Copyright © 2007-2008 AfricanConsciousness.com |
Discover the artistic soul of Serge Hidalgo
Interview/Art Exhibit
African Consciousness: A self-taught artist, your passion for the arts
goes back to childhood. Tell us about your creative journey, Serge...
Serge Hidalgo: It's at the age 8 that I realized I had a talent for drawing.
But as far back as I can remember, I have always been drawn by the arts...
I started by reproducing the cartoon characters of the time and shortly after
began drawing people.
I never really liked school- especially math- and so I would spend my time
drawing my classmates (which of course, got me in a bit of trouble with my
teachers!). I have always enjoyed doing portraits...
I never went to an art school; I am a self-taught artist!
I started with drawing, was a dancer from the ages of 13 to 30, and also
attented the Annie Fratellini school for the performing arts.
My father did not want me to pursue a career in the arts; he would actually
never even look at my work- like most people, he did not believe one could
make a living as an artist!
goes back to childhood. Tell us about your creative journey, Serge...
Serge Hidalgo: It's at the age 8 that I realized I had a talent for drawing.
But as far back as I can remember, I have always been drawn by the arts...
I started by reproducing the cartoon characters of the time and shortly after
began drawing people.
I never really liked school- especially math- and so I would spend my time
drawing my classmates (which of course, got me in a bit of trouble with my
teachers!). I have always enjoyed doing portraits...
I never went to an art school; I am a self-taught artist!
I started with drawing, was a dancer from the ages of 13 to 30, and also
attented the Annie Fratellini school for the performing arts.
My father did not want me to pursue a career in the arts; he would actually
never even look at my work- like most people, he did not believe one could
make a living as an artist!
A.C.: So painting for you is a way to of keep history alive, but
also a way to celebrate your identity your culture... What
have you learned about yourself during this process?
S.H.: For me, it is our duty to express ourselves! What I have
learned is that being from the caribbean, the history of my
country is directly linked to slavery and Africa a- and these are
things that I did know before I began this creative journey
which went on for ten years.
Personally- because of the way I was raised- I only had very
limited knowledge of my heritage.
Now I know that this greater part of History is intrinsically
linked to my own.
also a way to celebrate your identity your culture... What
have you learned about yourself during this process?
S.H.: For me, it is our duty to express ourselves! What I have
learned is that being from the caribbean, the history of my
country is directly linked to slavery and Africa a- and these are
things that I did know before I began this creative journey
which went on for ten years.
Personally- because of the way I was raised- I only had very
limited knowledge of my heritage.
Now I know that this greater part of History is intrinsically
linked to my own.
A.C.:In addition to painting, you are also a photographer
and sculptor. What is that you aspire to nowadays,
artistically speaking?
S.H.: Artistically speaking, what I seek to do now is to
translate all that I have learned researching Africa and the
history of slavery into more introspective works.
I have already begun doing this, namely with a sculpture I
called "Relief d'Afrique".
I would also like art patrons to know more about my work.
I think there is a place for everyone in this world, especially
when it comes to art... I would love to work on serious
projects with other artists.
(I actually have a number of other things I am working on,
such as digital music... But in the end, is there not a link
between all things in art?)
and sculptor. What is that you aspire to nowadays,
artistically speaking?
S.H.: Artistically speaking, what I seek to do now is to
translate all that I have learned researching Africa and the
history of slavery into more introspective works.
I have already begun doing this, namely with a sculpture I
called "Relief d'Afrique".
I would also like art patrons to know more about my work.
I think there is a place for everyone in this world, especially
when it comes to art... I would love to work on serious
projects with other artists.
(I actually have a number of other things I am working on,
such as digital music... But in the end, is there not a link
between all things in art?)
A.C.: Let's talk Africa for a moment... Your love for the african
continent is evident in your art and through your celebration of
black culture as a whole... I would define your artistic spirit as
being one with a human and spiritual quest. As Caribbean artist
of African origins, what would you say about your "African
Consciousness"?
S.H.: What I find most interesting is that when I began this
process of translating all I have learned over the past few years,
the pendants I started sculpting- which were born out of pure
imagination- turned out to be of the african genre.
So I think both my conscious and unconscious mind naturally
turn to Africa.
continent is evident in your art and through your celebration of
black culture as a whole... I would define your artistic spirit as
being one with a human and spiritual quest. As Caribbean artist
of African origins, what would you say about your "African
Consciousness"?
S.H.: What I find most interesting is that when I began this
process of translating all I have learned over the past few years,
the pendants I started sculpting- which were born out of pure
imagination- turned out to be of the african genre.
So I think both my conscious and unconscious mind naturally
turn to Africa.
A.C.: One of your greatest successes as an artist has been your series "Peuple
Noir" [Black People]: a wonderful tribute to your ancestors,
and something of a celebration of the beauty of black culture as it lives in you
through painting and music. Tell us more about this series: your source of
inspiration, the paintings you created, and your reasons for going down this
particular path...
S.H.: There are so many reasons... On a personal level, this series is
profoundly linked to what I was exposed to at home, as a child...
Once again, I go back to my father: he listened to wide range of musical
genres, from soul music to caribbean biguine... During the holidays,
my grandmother would come visit us in France, with all the wonderful
treasures of Guadeloupe living within her. And yet my father never wanted us
to go back to our country of origin. He spoke créole, but never with us, his
children... I never understood why.
As we all know, when something is forbidden to you, it becomes that much
more attractive! And so as a result of all this, I was immensely drawn to my
culture of origin and to this country that was mine, but that I did not know...
I find that black people have this unique strength and intensity that you do
not find in other cultures. I think it's because we are a people of kings and
queens- we often tend to forget this.
My research began with African-American history. I saw and read many
fascinating things. One book that truly touched me was Paroles d'Esclaves
[Voices of Slavery]. This book presents stories told by former slaves- some
were completely alienated by their condition, others were outraged. Some
accounts give details of the horrible things they went through. It is such a
life-changing book! It makes you wonder how human beings could go that far
with cruelty! I highly recommend it.
I was also inspired by figures like Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Frantz
Fanon, the Blacks Panthers, Melvin van Peebles, Chaka Zulu, Toussaint
Louverture, Louis Delgres, Angela Davis, Mumia Abu Jamal, etc...
Another element that draws me to making these paintings is the fact that
much still remains untold [of the history of black people].
Noir" [Black People]: a wonderful tribute to your ancestors,
and something of a celebration of the beauty of black culture as it lives in you
through painting and music. Tell us more about this series: your source of
inspiration, the paintings you created, and your reasons for going down this
particular path...
S.H.: There are so many reasons... On a personal level, this series is
profoundly linked to what I was exposed to at home, as a child...
Once again, I go back to my father: he listened to wide range of musical
genres, from soul music to caribbean biguine... During the holidays,
my grandmother would come visit us in France, with all the wonderful
treasures of Guadeloupe living within her. And yet my father never wanted us
to go back to our country of origin. He spoke créole, but never with us, his
children... I never understood why.
As we all know, when something is forbidden to you, it becomes that much
more attractive! And so as a result of all this, I was immensely drawn to my
culture of origin and to this country that was mine, but that I did not know...
I find that black people have this unique strength and intensity that you do
not find in other cultures. I think it's because we are a people of kings and
queens- we often tend to forget this.
My research began with African-American history. I saw and read many
fascinating things. One book that truly touched me was Paroles d'Esclaves
[Voices of Slavery]. This book presents stories told by former slaves- some
were completely alienated by their condition, others were outraged. Some
accounts give details of the horrible things they went through. It is such a
life-changing book! It makes you wonder how human beings could go that far
with cruelty! I highly recommend it.
I was also inspired by figures like Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Frantz
Fanon, the Blacks Panthers, Melvin van Peebles, Chaka Zulu, Toussaint
Louverture, Louis Delgres, Angela Davis, Mumia Abu Jamal, etc...
Another element that draws me to making these paintings is the fact that
much still remains untold [of the history of black people].
| ~This artist perfectly reflects the way culture can truly be a gift in one's life. His work, purely in his image, sheds light on the secrets of his soul, the depth of his artistic world, his pride in his people, and above all, the spirit of man with a profound human and spiritual quest. And so it is with great that I give you the man who's been called the "Spike Lee of Painting": Serge Hidalgo. AD~ |
| Stevie Wonder |
| Tupac Shakur |
| Whoopi Goldberg |
| Malcolm X |
