-Sculptures – paintings – drawings
until July 3, 2011 at the Cultural Space
Every day from 11 am to 1 pm and from 4 pm to 7 pm
Born in 1931 in La Rochelle, Jean LANIAU began his professional life at the age of 14
in the Faubourg Saint Antoine district in Paris, where woodworking,
particularly in the style of furniture making, occupied the back shops and courtyards of the neighboring streets.
In 1968, alongside his professional career, he decided to attend evening drawing and painting
classes with Mr. Paul GIROL, as well as correspondence courses offered by the ABC school with Mr. PACOUIL.
Quickly, as a diligent student, Jean LANIAU acquainted himself with all the techniques of pictorial art,
drawing, wash, watercolor, and oil painting, with training based on the study of drawing and painting
from a model, regardless of the subject: flower, still life, landscape…
He engaged in copying the great masters (Vlaminck, Renoir, Van Gogh,
etc.) and after completing several hundred personal oil paintings of various inspirations,
he turned to engraving. Then, departing from this technique, he continued with passion
in drawing, pastel, and watercolor.
The study of the female nude particularly sensitized him, and his works
reveal this new inclination. From 1975 onwards, he decided to take sculpture classes at the
Higher School of Montparnasse with Mr. MOIRIGNOT. His prior experiences and his
great ability to adapt to drawing allowed him to quickly master sculpture.
From 1981, he decided to devote himself exclusively to this art.
Quickly, his works were exhibited, recognized, and became part
of major collections. He created the bust of Marshal Juin for the city of
Le Lavandou, two sculptures for the city of Biscarosse, a sculpture
for the garden of the 15th arrondissement in Paris, and other works that
went abroad.
The municipality of Théoule offers Mr. LANIAU the opportunity to exhibit a retrospective including a collection of 150 diverse works
representative of the different periods of his life.
It is an exceptional event for a great artist.
