Two local artists showcase their work in month-long exhibition |03 April 2023

The two artists in the company of President Ramkalawan and MNA Roucou (furthest from camera)

An art exhibition entitled ‘Nou Rezwenn’ (We meet again) is currently on at the Carrefour des Arts art gallery, Victoria.

The art exhibition by two not well known local artists, Antonia Tirant and Claude Vidot from the district of Mont Fleuri, was officially opened by Jimmy Savy, the executive director of the National Arts and Craft Council (NACC) within the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts (SNICHA), in a short ceremony held at the gallery on Friday.

The ceremony was graced by the presence of President Wavel Ramkalawan; Designated Minister Jean François Ferrari; the secretary general of SNICHA, David Andre; the Ambassador for Culture, Patrick Victor; the elected member for Mont Fleuri in the National Assembly, Honourable Michel Roucou; family, friends, colleague artists and other guests.

Mr Vidot, who is an arts graduate, left his job in 2019 due to an eye problem after 28 years working as a camera operator with the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).

He said it was then that he decided to return to his painting brush which he put aside 28 years ago to produce the four year art collection.

His collection of drawings, which varies in styles and moods, are colourfully painted in oil and acrylic on canvas.

“Ms Tirant and I first met while working at SBC and this is why we chose ‘Nou Rezwenn’ as the title for our exhibition. I was a cameraman and she was working in the canteen,” said Mr Vidot, who hopes to put up more exhibitions to showcase his work.

Ms Tirant, who also happens to be an arts graduate, said that she started into real painting after she was forced to quit formal employment, also in 2019, due to a health problem which has bound her to the wheel chair.

Her collection of art works include new and old painted in oil on canvas, including on glass and on mirror.

“I’ve been practicing painting for some time and recently I took the challenge to venture into oil painting and I just wanted to show to the people what I can do. I hope to put up a solo exhibition one day to show other my other creations,” said Ms Tirant, who noted that they are in the process of launching a new association, ‘Limitless Art’, to reach out to artists in the Mont Fleuri district, including those with a disability, who have hidden talents and facing difficulties to showcase their work.

In launching the exhibition, Mr Savy said he hopes that the exhibition by the two artist will inspire others, especially the youth, to engage in art.

He noted that many youths are embroiled in anti-social activities and engaging in art is a way of disentangling themselves from such nefarious activities and earn a decent living.

It was district MNA, Hon. Roucou, who encouraged both artists who were not practicing their art on a commercial basis, to come together and showcase their work to the public.

He said he first learned about the talent of Ms Tirant through an SBC art programme, ‘Tremolo’ and after learning about that of Mr Vidot, he approached and encouraged them to showcase their works together with the help of NACC.

Hon. Roucou said he was proud that the two artists have come to display their hidden talents and called on other people with hidden talents in the district as well as others from across the country to come forward and show what they have.

The magnificent collection of art works by the two artists are on sale with prices ranging from R1200 to R28,000. The exhibition will run until end of April.

Commenting on the works of the two artists, professional artist Colbert Nourrice said that looking at their work reveals that they are both fully experienced artists and it is a pity that they have taken so long to reconnect with their art and to showcase it to the people.

The accompanying photos show some highlights of the exhibition’s opening ceremony.

Text & photos by Patrick Joubert