Seychellois artist seeks to improve local crafts industry |12 February 2005

Renowned local artist, George Camille, is nearing the completion of Wavelength, a colourful and imaginative development targeting creative and technical enterprises wishing to relocate to a quieter and inspiring out-of-town location, for three years.

The vibrant external colour schemes, floors reflecting the fish motifs visible in much of Mr Camille's work, and decorative features of the building offer nine workspaces with rent ranging from R2,500 to R6,500 per month.

"People can move in, in March," Mr Camille said, adding that though a few spaces have been allocated, many are still vacant and up for grabs.

"I think that there hasn't been any good news in the craft sector for a long time," he said. "We're trying to get more creative people under one roof and to create an arts creative centre hub of sorts."

"By keeping (artists) together you have the advantage of a bigger team, which allows you to talk to people and get their help," Mr Camille said.

He also suggested that Wavelength is "not purely a crafts centre but also for people who use their imagination in their work," adding that such fields of work include architects, designers, goldsmiths and carpenters.

"However, we don't want to exclude anyone," Jane Camille said, adding that though they are targeting people in the arts sector, tenants wishing to use the space for other purposes would also be considered.

Mr Camille said that he has been encouraged and assisted in the project by the Development Bank of Seychelles and the now defunct Ministry of Industries and International Business.

"We want to put the business back on the front burner," Mrs Camille said, adding that an artist's working environment is the key to creativity and that their old studio at Le Chantier could not offer such inspiration.

Mr Camille established the Sunstroke Studio in 1987, saying, "we were big players in the textile and art business – I used to treat my t-shirts like canvases."

This was followed in 1997 by the restoration of an old wooden colonial house, Kaz Zanana, which was his first gallery in Seychelles and the Cote D'or Gallery on Praslin in 2001.

"I travel a lot and meet many people," Mr Camille said, adding that his work has featured in many shows, both in Seychelles and abroad, including Mauritius, Martinique, Reunion, London and Paris.

People wishing to contact Mr Camille can call 344334.