|
A New Zealander since 1991, French born Olivier
Duhamel lives on Waiheke Island with his wife Marie-France and their 3
children.
The young Duhamel leaves France before his
20th birthday for extensive travels in Europe, in Africa and in the
South Pacific. He arrives in New Zealand with his wife in 1986 and
leads a successful 15 years career as a software engineer until 2002
at which times he resumes his artistic pursuits.
A self taught hobbyist and long time
recreational draughtsman Mr. Duhamel has been a student of Chrystèle
Legardinier (etching on copper plates – 1985) and of David Reid
(sculptor and founder -2006). He has been a member of the Catherine
Mitchell Life Drawing group since 2004.
His principal inspiration is
the female nude
which he depicts using graphite pencil on paper with great attention
to details. Since 2006, Olivier Duhamel also makes small
figurative
bronze sculptures. The rapid success of these classical and elegant
figurines convinces him to become a full time sculptor.
(photo Richard van Kuyk
2008)
Like few other sculptors, Olivier Duhamel
casts his bronze himself in his Waiheke workshop. This allows him to
keep full control over the entire creative process. He prides himself
on the quality of his castings. More recently, he has been working
with Waiheke sculptor and founder, Oliver Stretton-Pow.
Loyal to his inspiration of the human form
figurative expression, Olivier also makes amazingly detailed and
realistic custom life castings. He is the author of the popular "body
casting manual", a guide explaining in easy to follow instructions
everything one needs to know to make a plaster sculpture of someone
chest.
His studio and
workshop is open to visitors by appointment or by contacting one
of
Waiheke Island tour operators.
Olivier Duhamel’ s
creations do not convey any particular message, do not attempt any
conceptual or symbolist exploration, nor do they search to be
innovative at all cost. They are rather trying to simply capture the
beauty and sensuality of his subjects.
His bronze works are sold in galleries across New Zealand and in
Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Paris, Marseilles, Nantes, Bruxelles and
Shangai.
Read more...
|
