Painting exhibition – Véronique Gendarme

From 16 to 31 October, some fifteen paintings by Véronique Gendarme will be on display at the Tourist Office. It will be possible to come and see them every day from 8.30am to 12pm and from 1pm to 5pm. Admission is free.

Another exhibition will be held at the same time, that of Ann (ceramics) and Albert (woodturner) Xhrouet. For more information, click here.

Autobiography of Véronique Gendarme

Born in March 1964 in Libramont to parents from the Ardennes, who later moved to the Gaume region, I was able to grow up in the idyllic setting of a still preserved wilderness.

As a child, I was quite gifted for drawing, so it was quite natural that at the age of 14 I went to the “Plastic Arts” section in Habay-la-Neuve. But, having a strong character, I quickly understood that the techniques and disciplines imposed were not for me.

So I studied horticulture, the need for plants and touching the earth always living in me. But the love of drawing had not left me for all that. Years later, I dared to reproduce my first oil painting from a postcard. The result encouraged me to continue in this way, this time from a photo. This is how I continued to refine my technique, alone in my studio.

Nature having been my first friend (we lived away from the village, I had few playmates of my age), it is to her that I wanted to pay tribute. My favourite subjects are therefore mainly old forests, not dominated by the hand of man, trees in decline but still beautiful, still inspiring. I also like to paint bucolic landscapes.

Being detail-oriented, the realistic and thorough technique imposed itself. Having the technique, I then had to have the audacity to venture towards another way of approaching the landscape. It was during my wild wanderings, and in total communion with the living, that my eye was able to sharpen and perceive in certain plant forms, semi-human, semi-animal allures, creatures straight out of a mythological tale. I had just found my “art”, highlighting other less perceptible realities.

I had been painting with oils for many years, but now I wanted to try other materials, other techniques, other subjects too. The fluidity of ecoline and the roughness of dry pastels seduced me. Birds, mammals and mushrooms have thus broadened my palette.

A few exhibitions in Belgium and France have allowed me to win a few prizes.

Véronique Gendarme