In conversation with Julien Jaca: “Flowers symbolize both the fragility and beauty of life”
In the evocative world of Julien Jaca, art becomes a powerful testament to beauty and resilience. As a painter based in Hossegor, France, Jaca’s latest solo exhibition, “THERE ARE ALWAYS FLOWERS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO SEE THEM – Paintings for Cy,” marks a new chapter in his creative journey. This series, inspired by his new role as a father and influenced by the works of Henri Matisse and Cy Twombly, reflects Jaca’s unwavering optimism and his desire to reveal the world’s inherent beauty, even in its most challenging moments.
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In this interview, we delve into the inspiration behind Jaca’s show, exploring how his personal experiences and artistic influences have shaped his latest work. From his reflections on optimism and the symbolism of flowers to the physicality of his painting process, join us as we discuss his thoughts and motivations behind his new body of work. Jaca: “When you can feel that a painting is made with energy and physicality, you can see the paint matter itself and experience something tangible.”
Why did you choose the quote “There are always flowers for those who want to see them” for the title of your solo show?
“The first original energy that made me start working in this direction and build this series, comes from the fact I became a dad of a little girl at the end of 2023, named Cy. So, immediately, I wanted to show her the beauty of the world, even if the world is kind of dark, difficult, and very anxious at the moment. I directly thought of what I read in a book about the painter Henri Matisse. During his period, when there were the worst wars on Earth, while other artists of his time painted the atrocity of war, he preferred to paint coloured flowers and some beauties of the world. In my opinion, it’s something really optimistic, like always seeing and focusing on what remains of the beauty of the world. And I am a really optimistic person as well. So that’s why I chose a quote of his for the title of the show: “There are always flowers for those who want to see them.” I imagine a poppy still standing on a battlefield.
“I wanted to show her the beauty of the world, even if the world is kind of dark, difficult, and very anxious at the moment.”
Have you always been an optimistic person, even as a child, or is it something you developed over time?
“Yes, I believe I’ve always been an optimistic person, always trying to see the positive aspects of life. Perhaps my optimism stems from growing up in a supportive, well-off family where I never lacked anything. However, I don’t think this is the only reason. Many wealthy individuals are pessimistic.
Throughout my life, I’ve felt that I could always leave everything behind and start anew somewhere simpler, like in the Tropics, if things went wrong. This sense of having options gave me a feeling that there is always a solution, the opposite of fatalism.
Even when the worst happens, such as losing my baby girl at birth six years ago, I strive to find meaning. It was the worst nightmare, and I had a severe nervous breakdown, taking years to recover. Yet, over time, I sought to understand why it happened. This tragedy led me to my true calling as an artist. After the loss, I quit everything I was doing, like tattooing, and pursued art. Some may say I’m trying to find meaning in the tragedy, while others might believe it happened for a reason. It depends on whether you see life as fatalistic, destined, or governed by random events.”
Cy, named after Cy Twombly, is your newborn daughter. Given your optimistic character and experiences, can you share how these perspectives influenced your approach to fatherhood and your art?
“As you can imagine, Cy Twombly is probably my favourite artist of all time. For me, he reached pure freedom, elegance, and beauty in painting like no one else did. So, after my daughter Cy was born, I started to paint flowers coming out from pots and vases, with the idea in mind that it would be the continuity of my Pots paintings made between 2020 and 2023.
I tried and struggled with it for some months, but I was not happy with the result, especially with the form, and impact. However, the latest series of Cy Twombly’s peonies paintings couldn’t get out of my head. So, it became the starting point of a new way of working: I wanted to go back and deep into proper painting, making paintings for what it is: paint matter on canvas, and I wanted to do it on a large size of canvas, made with lots of energy. I needed to paint and work physically, my whole being encompassed by the painting. I think I like to work on surfaces that have the same scale as me.”
“I wanted to go back and deep into proper painting, making paintings for what it is: paint matter on canvas.”
Can you recall your first encounter with Cy Twombly’s work? What was it about his art that moved you?
“I don’t remember exactly when I first encountered Cy Twombly’s work, but it was years ago when I didn’t fully understand art and painting. Despite being absorbed in other interests like music and student life, his art left a mark on me, even though I couldn’t articulate why at the time. Back then, I believed art had to be technically difficult and figurative, so I couldn’t openly appreciate Twombly’s style, even though it deeply moved and troubled me.
When I started painting, I rediscovered Twombly’s unique name and remembered the impact his work had on me. I quickly bought books and biographies about him and visited museums showcasing his work. By then, I had begun to free myself from rigid artistic constraints, partly by leaving tattooing, where precision and perfection are paramount. Twombly’s work immediately struck me as the epitome of pure, unrestrained freedom in painting, combined with elegance and poetry. For me, these qualities—freedom, elegance, and poetry—define true art.”
Your series is all about flowers. What do flowers symbolize for you, particularly in the context of today’s global challenges?
“For me, flowers symbolize peace. They also represent love, something the world sorely lacks today. It’s no coincidence that during the Vietnam War in the 1960s, the Flower Power movement emerged in California, with “Peace and Love” as its iconic symbol.
Additionally, flowers symbolize for me the fragility and ephemerality of life. A flower’s life is short, and once it wilts, it fades back into nature. We also use flowers to honour the deceased, placing them on tombs, sometimes for years. Thus, flowers represent both life and death.
When I was a tattoo artist, many people requested flower tattoos to commemorate loss or express love, often choosing roses for their beloved. Flowers were the most common design I tattooed and the symbol I have most frequently tattooed on myself. So, continuing this theme in my paintings feels like a natural process.”
“Twombly’s work immediately struck me as the epitome of pure, unrestrained freedom in painting, combined with elegance and poetry”
How important is the physical aspect of painting to your creative process, such as the drippings on your paintings?
“Since I had a need to see the matter of the painting, its fluidity, giving it the possibility of accidents, marks, and traces in the making, and obviously influenced by Cy Twombly, more and more I have mixed my industrial acrylic painting buckets with lots of water, which made all those drippings under the flowers. I like to have an immediate result, creating a painting quite quickly, with the possibility of covering it directly if I don’t like it and starting again. Those mediums permit me that.
I also realized that all those vertical drippings symbolize the verticality of life, the gravity. Almost all living beings are vertical, like humans, plants, trees, etc. In our collective imagination, vertical things represent more life, movement, growing, and horizontal things reference more to death, immobility, or rest.
When you can feel that a painting is made with energy and physicality, you can see the paint matter itself and experience something tangible. For me, this feeling and energy of urgency or hurry is intensified by the title of the works, which are coming from Haiku.”
What significance do Haiku poems hold for you?
“Haiku are extremely brief Japanese poems celebrating the evanescence of things and the sensations they arouse; most of them are related to nature like seasons, flowers, and blossoms. My aunt godmother offered me a Haiku book when we lost our daughter. It was a nightmare, but it’s also why I am a painter today. So, for me, it made sense to use poems from this book for the titles of my paintings. It connects my two daughters.”
“I realized that all those vertical drippings symbolize the verticality of life, the gravity.”
Do you have a favourite haiku?
“I don’t have a favourite haiku, but I appreciate a quote that could be one, and captures the essence of optimism and pessimism in life: “Some people only see the thorns among the roses.” I also resonate with something Julian Schnabel said: “I don’t know what motivates someone to make something, but for me, it has to do with optimism, love, and unconditional faith.” These words reflect my own feelings and artistic inspiration.”
What is the most important lesson you would like to teach your daughter, Cy?
“It’s a hard question that needs a deep answer, but I would say: respecting Nature and all kinds of living beings, always prefer the folly of passions to the wisdom of indifference. To accomplish great things, you must not only act, but also believe and dream.”
Explore the world of Julien Jaca with our catalogue
Curious for more? Browse the digital catalogue to discover more about Julien Jaca, his work, and vision. If you would like to receive a hard copy, simply email us to purchase the physical catalogue.
‘THERE ARE ALWAYS FLOWERS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO SEE THEM – Paintings for Cy’ is on display from 6 September to 11 October 2024 at COVA Art Gallery.
