Pierre Montant shares with us his “visions-choc,” necessary experiences for a painting to be born. Visions of interiors, stairwells, corridors, ceilings and walls with strange objects that seem to be animated, intimate spaces where a shoe suggests a presence we would want to follow… Visions of exteriors, with water as an endless source of inspiration for the painter. In the 80’s, trees, grass and plants are added to the mix. He had avoided them before, “because there are overwhelming examples in the history of painting.” In spring 1982, Pierre Montant paints a green landscape for the first time. And little by little, he invents a particular pictorial grammar for each plant, just as he redefines the texture and color of water in each painting.
At the beginning, for me, there was a fascination for art, quite simply. And also a passion for the spirit of geometry. I have always been captivated by the way spaces are organized, how they combine, in architecture as well as in nature. And over the years, these structures have become more and more populated.
Discover some paintings from the decade.
1980
Oil on canvas, 162 x 130 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1980
Oil on canvas, 140 x 200 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1980
Oil on canvas, 114 x 146 cm.
Private collection, Italia.
1981
Oil on canvas, 130 x 97 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1981
Oil on canvas, 162 x 260 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1981
Oil on canvas, 97 x 130 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1981
Oil on canvas, 146 x 162 cm.
1982
Oil on canvas, 130 x 162 cm.
Private collection, France.
1982
Oil on canvas, 81 x 65 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1982
Oil on canvas, 97 x 130 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1983
Oil on canvas, 146 x 162 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1984
Oil on canvas, 146 x 162 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1984
Oil on canvas, 162 x 146 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1984
Oil on canvas, 130 x 146 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1985
Oil on canvas, 146 x 122 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1985
Oil on canvas, 162 x 183 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1985
Oil on canvas, 162 x 146 cm.
Public collection, Switzerland.
1985
Oil on canvas, 97 x 130 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1986
Oil on canvas, 146 x 114 cm.
Private collection, Spain.
1986
Oil on canvas, 130 x 97 cm.
Private collection, Tunisia.
1987
Oil on canvas, Ø 165 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1987
Oil on canvas, 130 x 162 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1988
Oil on canvas, 130 x 97 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1988
Oil on canvas, 114 x 146 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1989
Oil on canvas, 130 x 97 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1989
Oil on canvas, 130 x 114 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
1989
Oil on canvas, 162 x 146 cm.
Private collection, Switzerland.
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