In this issue of Collage Yourself we introduce you to Le Roux Colleur, an exquisite collage artist from France. In his work, you will find a delicious visual treat full of colors, and subtle details.
I remember the first time I saw Lerouxcolleur’s work. As if it were a lightning bolt of frenzy, the pieces capture your gaze. There is a delicate line in them that balances color, forms and narrative. To delve into his work is to immerse oneself in a universe that brings echoes of a past that refuses to disappear. A contained nostalgia unfolds between strokes, cuts, glues and samplers.
But who is Lerouxcolleur?
Hi. My name is Geoffrey aka Lerouxcolleur, 38 years old, dad of 2 kids, live in Paris. I’m a free time artist, passionate by visual arts.
My visual journey began in childhood. I guess I was born collagist. I’ve been doing collage for more than a decade. For me, it’s like therapy that helps me deal with the daily life that shatters us, disrupts us, scatters us, decenters us, it’s exhausting! Collage allows me to put the pieces back together, to bring myself together, it’s essential. It could be another activity, but no other activity gives so much pleasure! Collage is a way of life!
I agree with you on the sublimation that collage offers us. It seems that everyday life tears us apart like a guillotine and we must find a way to put the pieces back together. It is like a collage in extension. I imagine that cutting and pasting became a habit until now. Why “Lerouxcolleur”? What does it mean?
It is a funny story. My wife gave me that nickname. Rouxcolleur it’s a word game in French between my hair color (roux, which means red) and colleur (collagist). Also in French, “roucouler” means sing like a bird or keep tender remarks. So, collage, I love it!
What a great way to name a project. It seems to me that this kind of games reveals new hidden meanings. You are not only a master in the skill of “roux” but also of colors and forms. In your works there is a delicate selection of materials. Where do they come from?
Initially I used to buy old french magazines from the 60s and 70s, old photos and postcards from a Parisian dealer of old books (les bouquinistes). Now I buy mostly on internet, sometimes associate with other materials. I mainly look for textures marked by time. Actually, I don’t need big quantity, for me collage is an art of sobriety. I go over and over the same magazines dozens of times until I it ends up in tatters, that’s my technic!
I think the idea of sobriety is exquisite. Collage stresses the game between abundance and moderation. The constant return to the sources is also part of this universe. We never see everything the same way. How do you discover the relationships between the materials you work with?
I’m a big fan of hip hop and see a lot of analogies between collage and sampling in hip hop.
Just listen an album like Donuts by J Dilla, you’ll see what I mean 😉 Sometimes I just want to dig images, others just cut them out, sometimes I need to produce and end up with a piece, others I want to try out new things. I also look at what others are doing. It inspires me a lot. Afterwards, I let myself be guided by intuition and chance. Usually, I assemble it, I let it sit, I complete it, and I wait for the moment when the different elements start to play together, where the alchemy takes place.
The idea of the sampler, collage and alchemy is fabulous. It is a perfect triad. The right measure between them is time, as you say. What´s next for Lerouxcolleur? Are you open for a collabs or special commissions?
100% open to collaborate! I’m so happy to receive proposition for working on new theme, new horizon. Feel free to feed me! I’m currently working on few special commands. I would love to work on exhibition.
For more about Lerouxcolleur visit:
@Lerouxcolleur on IG
If you are interested in a printed copy of Collage Yourself please send me an email or contact me on IG.
I will be happy to read you.