Seychelles Biennale of Contemporary Art 2022 - July 31 to August 28 |20 August 2022
Jadez receiving her prizes from one of the sponsors during the opening of the Biennale (Photo: Joena Meme)
‘As an artist I like to keep an open mind, always learning and researching’ – Juliette Zelime
The winner of the prize for ‘Best Emerging Artist’ in the Seychelles Biennale of Contemporary Art 2022, young local artist Juliette Zelime aka Jadez is a name that has become well known in the art circle in Seychelles over the past years.
Creator of KAJU, the branded line of accessories such as bags, jewellery and t-shirts, Jadez is also the recipient of the ‘Creativity and Enterprise’ award in Beijing in 2014 where she was studying fine art.
More recently, in October last year, she designed the logo of the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts.
With almost 20 years’ experience in art & design, the artist/designer, in this short interview, talks to Seychelles NATION journalist about her art and design journey and her winning piece in the biennale.
Seychelles NATION: Tell us a bit about yourself and who you are as an artist.
Jadez: I have been practicing art for almost 20 years. I have done all my studies in visual arts, from Seychelles National College of the Arts and the University, Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in Beijing, China. As an artist I like to keep an open mind, always learning and researching, this builds a thirst for knowledge and exploring new ways to visually express my ideas.
It is important to note that I would have not reached this far as an artist without the support of my family, close friends and acquaintances. I am also very grateful to have been taught by Seychellois art teachers like the late Sir Paul Jeanne, Gelage Dogley, Barry Gertrude, Steve and Marie May Marie, Marc Luc, Julien Brioche, Christine Chetty, Pierre Joseph, Justin Reddy, Alcid Libanotis and not to forget my professors from CAFA University in Beijing, China.
Seychelles NATION: What type of art do you usually practice and what inspires you to make it?
Jadez: I do not really follow any specific type of art because I like to explore the many possibilities in terms of ideas and materials that can be used to produce artworks. The sources of my inspirations are not limited to anything in particular, but nature does have an influence.
Seychelles NATION: Many artists like to express themselves through their art, what is it that you try to convey in yours?
Jadez: The specifics come with the theme or ideas being conveyed and it is always different. Many times I find myself being drawn to the ideas of interactions between human and nature, with the influence of the Seychelles culture and traditions.
Seychelles NATION: As an artist yourself, what do you consider to be your most important values?
Jadez: I personally consider love, patience and gratitude as important values and I try as much as possible to live by them.
Seychelles NATION: Now moving to your installation in the biennale, tell us about it. What is it exactly?
Jadez: ‘One year, One day’ – ‘Dan lepa losean’ is the title of my installation artwork. It is conceptual and experimental in nature, meaning that the idea and concept behind the work is the most important.
It has been an ongoing project that started since 2020 when the biennale was launched and it explores the visible and invisible ideas of the interaction between human and nature – the ocean in this case.
This installation can be interpreted to fit many contexts and this depends on who is viewing it. Personally I was looking at it in the context of the many souls lost at sea, especially in the Indian Ocean in relation to the theme of the biennale ‘Lost & Found’.
Seychelles NATION: What challenges or difficulties did you face while making your installation and how did you overcome them?
Jadez: Finding the artisans who can weave traditional bamboo fish traps and who were able to follow the instructions to weave one into a coffin shape, was one of the challenges. Obtaining bamboo was another one as well and filming. I was lucky to be introduced to Mr Riaz and Mr Sinon – two skilled artisans who gladly weaved two kazye that have been used in my installation. I also received help from Esme Belmont with the drone footage used in the video. My father Andre and uncle Alain also played an important role, as they were the ones with the skills to snorkel and advise on the right spot for us to place the Kazye on the reef at Anse Forban, Mahé.
Seychelles NATION: What message are you trying to convey to your audience through your installation?
Jadez: This installation is open to the viewers’ own interpretation, to question the norm and be curious about what they see in relation to what they know, the connection with our culture, our daily life etc...
Seychelles NATION: The Covid-19 pandemic has affected many people, including artists. How did it affect you or your artworks?
Jadez: In terms of art, I view Covid-19 as the time where most reflections were made, more creativity and ideas challenged. It was the time used to practice and produce artworks. Thus in regards to this, it did not really affect me artistically.
Seychelles NATION: Lastly, what would you say to young aspiring artists who have viewed your artwork?
Jadez: I hope that they found something about the artwork that triggered their senses and imagination. I would advise them to find their own interpretation of what they viewed, how it may relate to them personally and how it can guide or inspire their ideas for future artworks.
Sylia Ah-Time