“Copper-plate engraving in language, the blacks of Gérard Serée speaks to us about the country next to where we come from and what keeps us. Living. And obstinate to survive.” Alain Freixe
Gerard Serée was born in Evreux in 1949. From a young age, he draws and starts to exhibit his work. His first solo exhibition is organized in 1966 in his hometown at the Maison de la Culture; this is the year of his first trips. Serée moves to Nice in 1969. From 1970 he starts his study at Villa Arson, National Centre of Contemporary Art, in Nice, following the teaching of Daniel Dezeuze. He soon produces important drawings on dance (notably at the Rosella Hightower School) then participates in a theatrical group of corporal expression ‘Terra Amatta’ in Nice from 1972 to 1973. From these experiences are born a series of monotypes (little moving people) in relation to the Taissille frescoes in Southern Morocco.
During the 1970’s the young artist makes several new trips to the Middle East and North America. At the beginning of the 80’s, he attends the Marie-Louise Jeanneret’s International Centre of Artistic Experiments in Boissano Italy to complete his formation. At this same time his works start to be more regularly shown in solo and group exhibitions first around Nice and Vence, then his circle expands to Lyon, Bari and Bologne in Italy and then to New York.
Painter and engraver, Gerard Serée has the passion to publish small circulations and books for book lovers, he also collaborates in the domain of producing works with poets such as Christian Arthaud, Daniel Biga, Michel Butor, Alain Freixe, Béatrice Bonhomme, Jacques Kober, Raphaël Monticelli, Bernard Noël, James Sacré, Marie-Claire Bancquart, Yves Broussard and Jean-Marie Barnaud; listening to his poet or writer friends, Serée produces engravings, water colors, collages and more paintings.
In 1992 the artist creates his own studio in Nice, the ‘Atelier Gestes et Traces’. Gerard Séree lives his vocation with a prism of passion; very sensitive to the odours of ink, of wet paper or the beauty of the press, he above all loves the atmosphere that reigns in the engraving and silk-screen painting studios, pleased to be able to manipulate the utensils which he uses to express his art is evidence. This is the artists’ means of expression; he is in touch with the body, dance and gestures.
