“My wish is for my work to allow me to only become an intimate confident of nature – a nature that organizes its life with elusive subtleties.”

These words of André Bourrié are particularly suited to the sun-filled landscapes of southern France where he was born and raised and where he is still living. He is deeply attached to this part of the country, the Languedoc, to its unique sunlight. “The sun bites hard, to the roots, forcing everything to shrivel to survive, in an effort to concentrate life’s energy – and then, with only a few raindrops, a thousand scents are liberated. I let them fill me with joy. I let them revitalize me.”

This radiant light can be painted with chromatic violence – as in Fauvism – to convey all of its power. Bourrié chooses a second approach to tame this light: “I approach this incandescent luminosity with humility. I identify myself to the overall whiteness and I establish a link that unites all the elements of the landscape.” This approach preserves the intimacy between the spectator and both the visible and invisible worlds that surround him.

André Bourrié’s careful study of light allows us to discover a spectrum of unexpected reverberation. The tones are discretely intermingled and superimposed – with light touches of the brush, rising into a crescendo of undulations, to finally enlighten the vision with unusual silence. And yet, the colors speak to you. Some critics say they whisper. Others say they sing.

André Bourrié was born in Montpellier in 1936. His parents died when he was only 8. His mischievous character and his free spirit led him to skip school and play with older friends. He first lived with an uncle, and then was sent to a small orphanage in Paris, where he had more opportunities to draw and where his best grades were earned in art class. He earned a degree as a ceramist. This trade allowed him to express more of his creative talents, to have conversations about color and art, to confront new ideas and styles, and left enough time to concentrate on his paintings. He was promoted director of an atelier, and then asked to teach a course.

Throughout this time, his desire to fully dedicate his life to painting was very strong. Before leaving the profession of “staffeur”, he will take the very demanding challenge of earning the title of “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” (Best Craftsman of France). With a 500 hour project that creates a “chef-d’œuvre” (a masterpiece), he wins the silver medal. He has donated this work of art to the Vauhallan town hall.

“Beyond judgments of aesthetics, beyond subjectivity, and beyond differences of opinion, the utmost appeal of every work of art is to translate with fidelity and as intimately as possible the true nature of its author.”

Today André Bourrié is represented by Axelle Fine Arts. This has allowed him to fully dedicate his life to painting. His works are part of private and institutional collections around the world.

© Andre Bourrie. All Image Rights Reserved