Mathó

Paper Regular - $200 USDImage Size 24 x 16 Inches (WxH)Overall Size including border 26 x 18 Inches (WxH)Archival pigment on cotton rag 290 gsm Paper Large - $450 USDImage Size 36 x 24 Inches (WxH)Overall Size including border 38 x 26 Inches (WxH)Archival pigment on cotton rag 290 gsm Paper XL - $850 USDImage Size 48 x 32 Inches (WxH)Overall Size including border 50 x 34 Inches (WxH)Archival pigment on cotton rag 290 gsm I was born in a big forest in France. I grew up climbing trees and imagining all the beasts that live in these forests. At my grandparents house, my grandpa being Russian, they had a reproduction of an Ivan Shishkin painting with bears in a forest. I think this painting is engraved in my subconscious and I carried it with me. In art school I was copying studio ghibli background to learn how to paint trees and leaves, then working with Disney I learned the technique on the movie Tarzan to make the forest feel alive. The forest and its creature. Always. Then when I saw the movie the Revenant, that bear scene completely struck me. I could never forget. From this image of a Grizzly from Montana, I wanted to put him in a different set up, lot more ethereal and surreal than the environment he was in. So I pulled from the symbolism and the traditional meanings of the bear in the Native American culture. The bear is a medicine animal. Represents strength and protection but also reflection. And this is where I am with this painting today. From this bear to us, humans , us and all the madness we are dropping everyday around the world.. maybe this bear can bring the question : where were you ? What have you become ? This painting will be part of Mark Maggiori’s solo show “Rise Of The Western Lights”.Opening September 18th-19th in Jackson Hole a the Center for the Arts with Jackson Hole Art Auction. All prints are signed and numbered