Happy 20th Anniversary The Matador !
September 11th is a time marker (not related to the tragic event) for me.
Actually, in 1993, I completed the first version of the Corrida, aka The Matador.
I didn’t know that it will become my signature painting, spreading successfully all over the world, on front cover magazines, beach towels and tattoos to name a few (more detailed coming in posts this week).
20 years of success, from the sale I made at my first appearance at the World Festival of Underwater Pictures in Antibes in 1993 where I show the freshly done painting, to the walls of the Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Shark ! exhibition May 2012-January 2013) including a permanent display at the bottom of a quarry in Thetford-Mine, Québec (since August 2010).
Schedule of the making of the painting and pictures of the posing session with my neighbor and friend Jean-Michel making passes at the top of the stool will be provided later (still in my French studio) !
While working for the set design of the French opera Carmen, a production of the Salzburger Landestheater (Austria), I looked for documentation about this story involving a bullfighter at the city library of Caen (Normandy, France) and I bought some books (no internet at this time….). Browsing the pictures, I got the idea of an underwater Matador playing with a shark (a great white, not a bull shark as I didn’t know much about it).
Nothing related with an interest in bullfighting for which I can’t stand for.
The original Corrida was a 46×38 cm, 19″x15″, oil on linen canvas, completed and signed 9/11, 1993, opus lec368, first exhibited at the 20th World Festival of Underwater Pictures in Antibes in November 1993 where it was sold to a returning customer and art collector (Courbevoie, France). (Below, the original painting during Pascal’s Retrospective Exhibition 1977-2007 at the Paris Dive show, with Claude Wesly from the Team Cousteau).
An edition of postcards was made in 1993, then an artprint edition (of 3000, sold out). In 1999, the Uzzi Company (Fort Lauderdale) launched a large beach towel and tee-shirts spreading my picture over the world. A new edition of the Uzzi beach towel started in May 2012. New multiples on paper and canvas as signed limited edition and merchandizing followed.
The Matador made the buzz in publishing since 1993 and was featured in 4 front covers of magazines in Israel, Greece, China, and USA.
And… my picture was copied for fun, or stolen, used without agreement… the artist’s cross to bear.
I’m sure lucky to have achieved my signature painting 20 years ago, and to have seen it enjoyed by thousands of patrons and friends supporting my work. I can’t be enough thankful for that.
Talk to you in 20 years !!! Olé !
Dec 8th Shark! at Moafl
An other day at the …exhibition.
With Jim Beller, the collector of all Jaws memorabilia exhibited at the show ( and more at his website), visiting Shark! today.
With Tre Packard, founder of PangeaSeed , an international organization who collaborates with members of the art, science, and environmental activist communities. I have been part of the West Coast Migration tour this summer (see my link) exhibiting hundred of artworks from supporting artists in 6 cities.
Sept 29th, 2012 Free visit to Shark! at MoAFL with Pascal
July 2012: Shark! at the MoAFL
Great movie and editing by Paula C. Caro Bravo about the Shark!
SHARK! Now SHOWING at the Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale, a video by Paula C.Caro Bravo, Lady Blue Production.
SHARK, the exhibition – Fort Lauderdale
As a little sponsor of the awesome Our World Underwater Scholarship Society , Rolex Foundation, I try to give the brillant young scholars an artistic touch. This year is special with the Shark ! exhibition at the Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale I was able to show today the American scholar Megan Cook around, and pointing the bests of the show: Victor Douieb .
Full gallery of pics of the visit Friday, June 29th, by Leah Vasti, Starmark at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.469209976423269.110855.124222504255353&type=3
Shark! at the MoAFL in June
A visit by the History of Diving Museum (islamorada, FL), Mrs & M. Thomas Alfred Lockyear II
An interview with the Newspaper of the French Consulate in Miami (in French):
Interview by Gene Stevens for Scuba Scout Team
Shark Exhibit: Modern Art part 1
Sharts Exhibit: Modern Art part 2
Sharts Exhibit: Modern Art part 3
Watch more video of Sharks Exhibit on www.scubascoutteam.com
Sharts Exhibit: No more shark fin soup
Sharts Exhibit: Doctor Pascal
Watch more video of Sharks Exhibit on www.scubascoutteam.com
Watch more video of Sharks Exhibit on www.scubascoutteam.com
Watch the news CBS Miami at noon with a preview of SHARK!
http://miami.cbslocal.com/
May 12th: SHARKS, Museum of Art, Opening
FORT LAUDERDALE, Museum of Art May, 12th Opening
Pics © by Alyson Sclanders, Victor Douieb, Françoise and Pascal Lecocq, 2012 Larger pics on my FB gallery
First hall. Curator of the exhibit Richard Ellis with Pascal, with the Museum Executive Director Irvin Lippman
Ruban cutting with the Museum Executive Director Irvin Lippman
Book signing with the legendary “Shark Lady”, Dr.Eugenie Clark and sculptor Victor Douieb
In Nick Caloyianis’ shark cage, the one Peter Gimbel, Ron and Valerie Taylor,
and Stan Waterman used for the legendary movie Blue Water White Death in 1971.
With sculptors Robin Lovelace and Victor Douieb
Museum of Art gift shop, with Alyson Sclanders, Victor Douieb, Bill Harkins, Guy Harvey and Deputy Director of the MoAFL Anthony Lauro
With my friends Ivi Kimmel and Ruth Petzold, and Nick Caloyianis
with my friends, famous Fort Lauderdale Iphoneographer Andy Royston,
and conservationist Staci-Lee Sherwood
with conservationist Samantha Whitcraft from Shark Savers. Painting by Richard Ellis
Painting by Judy Cotton, – a section of the exhibit is about shark finning-, photography by Daniel Botelho
Sculptures by Bill Wieger and Robbie Barber
Artifacts (coll. Marie Levine) and section about “Jaws”
The collection of Jim Beller’s “Jaws” related items, and sculptures by Victor Douieb.
“Colosseus Watching”, my second oil on canvas featured at the show
May 11th: SHARKS, Museum of Art, Pre-opening
FORT LAUDERDALE, Museum of Art
May, 11th
Preview
Work by Bill Wieger, Pascal Lecocq, Damien Hirst
April 30: Shark! a video by Patti Gross
New Video by Patti Gross about my sharks related paintings with the preview of the two paintings featured at the Shark! exhibition, Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, FL, May 12-Jan 6, 2013
Lengh: 3:46 © H20video
April 28: Hard Hat in Blue
“I made and dedicate this video to my good friend Pascal Lecocq for his talented paintings and my friends at the History of Diving Museum ( Iron Mike ) for telling the story of the brave men in the Hard Hats. We thank you for all that you have done and continue to do in the evolution of diving”
Patti O’Neal Gross.
Length: 4:03 © H2ovideo 2011
May 8-27 Coral Spring Art Museum
CORAL SPRING, FL, Art Museum, Benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life
Broward Art Guild Group Exhibition
May 8th-27th
2855 Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs, FL 33065
Show opens Monday-Saturday: 10am~5pm Thursday: 10am~8pm Closed Sunday; with a portion of the proceeds to Benefit AMC’s Relay For Life.
Special Meet The Artist Reception: Thursday, May 26th 6:00-8:00pm
2 original oil on canvas by Pascal on display.
