Snapshots presents Jean-Paul Réti on his sculptures
My large sculptures are hanging on walls, in front of the viewers: They “flying” over an urban landscape or trees or some other situations made mostly from steel.
Could you tell us a little about your creative practice?
I followed my studies in the French Fine Art School, in Paris. I imagined situations as viewed from a bird’s eye view. My large sculptures are hanging on walls, in front of the viewers: They "flying" over an urban landscape or trees or some other situations made mostly from steel. In addition, I show under the "skin" of these sculptures some pipes running underground, as our "artificial roots". This specific view gave me the Rome Prize, and later the Fulbright. Alberto Moravia wrote about that work in a very precise way (read more here).
I am the pioneer in sculpture to have chosen that way to look at our Earth. That is why I was invited to a common exhibition at the European Spatial Agency (ESA) with their photos made from the space of our Earth. Some of these on my website: reti-sculpteur.com.
How did your experiences as a Fulbrighter to the US in 2001 shape your artistic practice?
In the US, I worked mostly in Phoenix, Arizona, also in Colorado and New York. Everywhere I could work and also sell my sculptures, so I have some pieces in different collections, as well as a museum, the Nerman in KC, and some in Phoenix, Washington and so on. That means that I had a very efficient stay. Meeting people and interesting places.
Who are the sculptors and other artists that have had the biggest influence on your career?
Difficult to say who were the most powerful influences on me. Maybe Jean Dubuffet. Difficult to say, because I am the only one in sculpture to do this kind of work, so I couldn’t find any artist around me as a "master".
About
My mother was French, my father Hungarian. They were travelling, my father stopped by Brasov because his work, as a doctor, with my mother and brother: I was born there, but we flew away when I was 8 months old. Then followed a very special situation, because I was very briefly behind the "Iron Curtain". Later my mother helped me to make my studies in Paris, where finally I settled down.
Universities and the Fine art School gave me a good base for my work. My works are in Italy, US, Japan, China, Germany, France and some other locations. After years in Italy, US, Japan, I’d be happy to discover other countries, but only if I have there a work place. That’s the future...
Visit Jean-Paul Réti's site. Réti's sculptures are available to view by appointment in Paris, and are in collections around the world, including the Nerman Museum in Kansas City, also in the major collection of François Pinault and at Beaubourg Museum in Paris, etc. In Paris, Réti's exhibition space is open 7/7/2023 by appointment by e-mail: [email protected]