However,
France culture, niki de saint:
In 1991, the writer Jean Daive questioned the artist about his work, his influences … Meanwhile, and his funny technique to fight his pulmonary illness. Moreover, A gratifying interview, to (re) listen without moderation on the France Culture site.
The plastic artist. Nevertheless, sculptor Niki de Saint Phalle in her workshop, in Soisy-sur-École, in January 1962. Meanwhile, Photo Giancarlo Botti/Rapho range
Posted on August 10, 2025 at 3.30 p.m.
Un long laugh. Moreover, crazy, france culture, niki de saint which lasts whole minutes. Nevertheless, This is how this long interview begins in 1991 by Jean Daive with Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002), for France Culture. Therefore, The latter-currently celebrated by two exhibitions. in Aix-en-Provence and Paris-then receives the writer with the old Horse-Blanc inn that she bought in Essonne, while she completes her spectacular Tarots garden in Tuscany. She explains to laugh twenty minutes a day to fight the disease that has invaded her lungs. burned by the polyester and the vapors of the resins. She who has “Abolished the distinction between sculpture. painting”, Note Jean Daive, evokes his striking influences, of Gaudí (“His wonderful garden of joy”, she said of the Güell park, in Barcelona) to the horse factor, via Arcimboldo or theaction painting.
In these five episodes. his biography is touched: his childhood is mainly summarized to his “Schizophrenia” Between the United States (the country of france culture, niki de saint her mother, where she partially grew up) and France (where her father comes from); The incest that she undergoes at the age of 12 is barely mentioned; His relations with her first husband, Harry Mathews, then with Switzerland Jean Tinguely are barely more dug. Eclining and passionately, the visual artist details her work. The system of Shots. these works which she produced between 1961 and 1963 by making “Bleed” The canvas, using paint pockets that balls pierce. “At the beginning, I did not assume my own violence, I watched others put the picture to death. »» Here it is “As a drug addict of this thing”. this artistic mechanism which allows it to exteriorize “A great rage against men, society, God and injustice”.
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Niki de Saint Phalle also tells the « reliefs » half-chest mid-malabro she knit with children’s toys, or the intense weeks of realization of Hon / her, This amazing giant woman installed in Stockholm with the complicity of the friend and director of Museum Pontus Hulten or his dear Jean Tinguely – and who shocked certain visitors, refractory to the idea of penetrating the sculpture by her vagina. This series of interviews with an artist “Solar. committed”as described with accuracy its title, turns out to be rich, captivating, touching. Especially when the designer of Pineapple said his weariness to be reduced to this “Joyful. important step” of her career, but which remains for her a stage. Or assume his “Folty of grandeur”assimilating him to a demonstration of his « ardent » feminism, still today galvanizing.
“Niki de Saint Phalle. The magic bestiary ”, Hôtel de Caumont, Aix-en-Provence, until October 5. Catalog ed. Hazan, € 29.95.
“Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Tinguely, Pontus Hulten”, at the Grand Palais, Paris, until January 4, 2026.
France culture, niki de saint
Further reading: “I got into the game” – A high -flying jury unveiled for the architectural competition – Arborist pruner, Philippe exhibits his works carved with a chainsaw – In Giverny, at Claude Monet’s table – Chiara Benzi and Yann Delord.
