The inspiration: ONCE UPON A TIME

Gauvin finds his inspiration in various periods of art’s history. With a personal and unique blend of mediums and techniques, he transcends ancient artworks with a sublime interpretation.
His frescoes and mosaics are achieved by utilizing layers of sands & pebbles coming from Mediterranean beaches such as Patara and Bozcaada.
This collection results from the study of these pebbles, their shapes, colours and genuine characteristics.
The Nasar Boncuğu, the evil eye, integrated to the eyes of the fish, a symbol of luck to ward off bad omens, a powerful feature belonging to the faith of the Mediterranean culture.
The Greco roman masques originates from dramaturgy, mythology and its divinities.
For this theme the research is based on Turkish museums, archaeological sites and roman ruins. The rendering of cold washed down stone sculpture blends with wild vivid nature giving it a new life.
The Selcuk period is a rich source of inspiration for the ceramic artworks. The design is focus on the purity of the lines and contours and their symbolic representations.
In the Iznık tiles the artist emphasizes his study with a technique that gives a 3-dimension effect to his artworks.
This impression is obtained by working on larger scale than original works, zooming details from 10 cm2 to 1 m2. The composition acquires a movement that makes the artwork more dynamic, more contemporary.
In this collection he adds his personal touch to the tulips and pomegranate flowers by adding a mixture of metallic shades to the original palette, which was restricted to hues of blue and red.
In the Byzantine artworks the rendering becomes more sophisticated, more detailed and chiselled.
A theme where the artist indulges with the blend of truth & false, real & fake in harmony with the art forms of that era.
In the collection of masks, urns and portraits of the virgins, the artist creates a texture achieved by various layers of sand applied to the canvas as with the frescos and mosaics.
The ICONS- St Nicholas:
Here we are reminded us the passing of time.
Although these icons were damaged or vandalised they keep their beauty, their meaning and fascination. It is as if the soul of the artist still persists.
The artist lives a similar experience as he alters his artwork by applying an aging technique, a process that mutates the colours, even damages the drawings, a unique method that brings out the desired finish.
In this collection Gauvin insists on the naive expression of the subjects. The base of the work is wood panel. Through engraving, carving and hammering objects on the surface, he creates special motley decorative elements, for example the use of nails to ornate the garments.
The addition of metallic paint and a final lacquer give a sacred and precious finish.
Sultans’ Courts and the Ladies of the Harem
A mixture of contemporary modern physiognomy based on actual fashion personas and a research of traditional costumes.
The oil technique is favoured for the rendering of this theme.
The final touches and make up are achieved by finger treatment, tarnishing, crackling, altering the paintings, obtaining through patina an old finish contrasting with contemporary charisma. In this collection Gauvin is affirming the concept of everlasting beauty.
In the miniatures we are attracted by the composition. The proportions are not following human norms. It is interesting to scrutinize the activities depicted in the tableaux. When you look closely at these original works, you are mesmerized by the details of their subjects and the beauty of their garments ornamentations; thus revealing the splendour of the personages of the courts and imperial officials. Their naive expression takes life.
Taken from a fashion angle, the artist is fascinated by the ladies clothes, especially the floral Ottoman motifs.
As we browse through the gallery of this artist we indulge in the splendour of the past Ottoman culture, a sort of melancholy of the Greco roman heritage, a mixture of exotic passion well understood by those fond of the phenomena of Orientalism!