les 5 corps de pierre (2017) Painting by Jean Gounin

Jean Gounin, a contemporary French painter, experienced a transformative moment in 1969 when he encountered the surrealist works of Max Ernst, followed by the captivating creations of Yves Tanguy, Wifredo Lam, and Roberto Matta, among others. Surrealism served as a revelation for Gounin, coinciding with a period rich in artistic and cultural revolutions, encoming music, political awareness, and beyond.

Since settling in Île de in 1980, Gounin has dedicated himself to the meticulous exploration of his improbable worlds through the medium of oil painting. Blending elements of figuration and abstraction, he approaches his canvases with a profound sense of freedom and expression.

Gounin's creative process begins with the formation of a diagram, laying the groundwork for the composition to come. With delicate brushes in hand, he improvises on freshly laid layers of paint, guided by his mood and intuition. His objective is to evoke an atmosphere of mystery, while remaining the primary spectator of his own creations.

Central to Gounin's artistic philosophy is the belief that slowness aligns harmoniously with an introspective and meditative approach. In each of his paintings, titles refrain from directly describing the depicted images. Instead, they function akin to poems, contributing to the overall poetic environment surrounding his work.

• Nationality:
• Date of birth : 1952
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary French Artists