Artists in residence

Jérémie Priam graduated from the Caribbean Arts Campus with honours in 2013. He was born in 1989 and lives in Martinique.

His work focuses on many ideological and social issues. He puts his finger on taboo subjects that can affect both his insularity and the outside world – from vanity to consumerism to popular beliefs – everything is questioned. In his work, he explores the troubles of West Indian identity, uprooting and the aftermath of the slavery past. At the same time, he also denounces the excesses of our contemporary society by using metaphor and allegory.

He integrates different media in his work (drawing, printmaking, video, performance, installation, sculpture, etc.). He aims for a “decolonial” approach to contemporary art in Martinique by challenging the exoticism to which he refuses to submit.

INTERVIEW

What are the benefits of a residency at the Cité internationale des arts,  in Montmartre?

“The main benefit of my residency here for 8 months was to be able to enjoy the Parisian cultural bath, the opportunity to see many collections, exhibitions and, being quite cinephile, many films, old and recent. 

Reunion Island is in itself a very rich and stimulating cultural environment, but not so much for the visual arts and cinema – it must be said what is. But their contact is essential to me. With each new visit a new questioning, a new inspiration. 

Moreover, the work environment is ideal, both in terms of the studio I enjoyed, its location and tranquility, and the Cité’s team, which is very attentive and always ready to support and even take the initiative in projects. 

It must also be said that simply residing here mechanically increases your visibility. Because of the support and communication of the Cité’s team, but also because of the contacts with other artists from… everywhere!”

What are your current projects?

“Thanks to these contacts, I was able to make my first exhibition in a gallery in Paris this winter. 

One of my paintings was also shown in the lobby of the Cité internationale des arts at the same time. 

The next project is a solo exhibition at the Cité Des Arts de la Réunion. This is an important project for me. Both in terms of volume (there are 240m2 to orchestrate!) and emotionally. 

The works are currently on a cargo ship heading for Reunion Island, when I return in May I take them in, finish them and start the scenography work in collaboration with the institution.”

BIOGRAPHY

For several years, Charles Prime has pursued a pictorial work and a reflection on landscape painting, its tradition and its topicality. Initially fairly faithful to the ancient masters who formed his eye, the 17th century French and Dutch masters, German and English romanticism, he gradually integrated more personal and contemporary elements into his compositions. While continuing to represent natural sites, he now focuses his attention on the interaction of characters with the landscape. Using disparate photographic elements (natural sites, contemporary characters, objects, vegetation, panels…) he recomposes scenes of tourism, travel, hiking, camping, exploration. Through his compositions, Charles Prime highlights the contrast between the immutability of landscapes and the topicality of any human activity.